I actually remembered to follow up with my Predictions List! Yes, this makes everything much better and far more entertaining!

Also this happens to be the second time I remember to do it. So yay? The first was when Anderson had the “Committed” match with Shaw. When the hell was that?

No Surrender was pretty good, and TNA has been pretty damn good of late as it is. Even more praise is shooting out the kazoo for their latest Impact Tapings.

So kudos, and kazoodos for kicking off the Televised special with a Wrestling Match! You wouldn’t think it was that hard to get right, would you?

I made the prediction that Havok would be the smart money to bet on, I was right. Too bad I went with Velvet huh?

Despite the chances in this match, it was really just to give Havok an exhibition. I don’t dislike her. I like to poke fun with the Disco Bane and Skrillex comments, but hey, makes me laugh. Isn’t that why I write this thing every week, to make myself laugh!? Of course it is.

Rebel takes a hard landing to the floor rolling down the Steel Steps, despite her not really being ring ready, on the ground of her breaking her arm. She does have a good look and seems to enjoy throwing herself down some steps. So, the future is bright?

However, her doing the splits to dodge, though “different”, highly impractical.

How’s that for journalism.

Havok Won – no face!

Kenny King vs. Chris Malendez

This was an awkward impromptu match.

Here’s why this annoyed me. MVP and Kenny King headed to the ring to call out Malendez, to then give him this great opportunity of Carrying luggage.

Why was that scripted?

Why waste time with that crap? Malendez needs some work on the mic, but hey, first time. I can let that slide.

Then we immediately hit the territory, just like that. King goes on about how he’s only got one leg, go back to “Boot Camp”, blah blah blah.

Now I’m not going to pretend like I’m offended, because I’m really not. What bugs me is that Malendez gets the sympathy vote, I’m sure that’s the last thing he personally wants. Having someone who is obviously not a fit for the Wrestling business, be written as a Character who is not fit for the Wrestling business, who has people mock him, and then beat the crap out of him.

Why would you sign the guy?

You signed the guy because he’s impressive, because he’s 6ft plus, he has a good look, he’s strict, trained, a War Hero.

Don’t let him be an idiot who casually walks out to meet the bad guy and offered jobs of lackeys, then gets made fun of then beaten down.

The only people that wins over, are those who feel sorry for him. I feel sorry for him, it’s a horrible, horrible accident, but what empowers that, is his stride to overcome it.

What I don’t feel sorry for, is someone getting into the Wrestling business to suck ass at it. Again, I know he’s being Written this way, but how am I supposed to get on board with that, that doesn’t reflect on the sympathy angle where I cheer for him because “He’s very good, given his disability”. When you could have people cheer for him because “He’s Very Good”.

The entire match was Malendez getting the crap kicked out of him by Kenny, till in the end he Managed a roll up and won, then got beaten up even more.

Yay, this guy sucks! Well done TNA on signing someone who sucks, again!

This is my point, you tell me how good he is, you show me clips of how he can wrestle, you put Bully, Devon, Anderson and Kurt’s stamp of approval on him, then you write his character so he sucks and can’t defend himself.

What am I supposed to take from that?

Anderson came to the rescue, so I guess this is a learning curve type of thing. So who knows. But it’s TNA, so I can take a pretty damn good guess.

Homicide vs. Samoa Joe – X-Division Championship

I’m going to say it, the fact that this match took place, is ridiculous.

Sure, back in the day Homicide was a “guy” in the Division, but he’s never been great. Now you’ve got guys who are great, and they’ve been passed up literally for months to cater to the “Home field” advantage by bringing in crowd favourites to bury your talent.

Wow, you hired this awesome Luchador from Mexico, you’re right, he’s incredible. But he sucks compared to “Blam Blam” Homeboy I can do a freakin flip, Homicide.

He’s not even signed with you. So you use him to bury the guys you have signed to your roster.

Here’s a thought, screw the home field advantage and build your talent.

Guess what, Samoa Joe isn’t from New York, but people love him. Crazy Steve has barely done anything or given any screen time, and they love him too.

People respond to Tigre Uno because he’s so impressive in the ring. Give him the time.

Also lol –

I told you I make myself laugh.

Speaking of things that make me laugh, Tenay and Taz plugged the next round of Impact Tapings by saying “You can see yourself on TV!”

Which is one of two things, or in fact, both things!

Your struggling to sell tickets so you add in the extra boost of people being on TV, which is a poor, poor way to sell your product.

And number two, in a related sense, there will be so little people attending the TV Tapings, that you are Guaranteed to see yourself on Television.

Just saying.

Blam Blam hit a Cutter on Joe and didn’t win, thank fully. I hate the Cutter. But I also Love the Cutter. DDP was the guy, Orton uses it well, Bully pulls it out here and there. It bugs me when people use the same finishes. Least it’s not as annoyed as Taryn using it, but whatever.

The only good thing from Homicide using the Cutter is that Joe countered it into a joke – mid air, and won the match.

James Storm, Sanada and the new Super Manik then crashed the segment.

There is no reason, at all, for James Storm to be re-designing the X-Division as Cultural Luchadores.

My only hope is that Tigre Uno might actually get some better TV Time.

The Hardyz vs. Team 3D vs. The Wolves – Ladder Match

Again, fairly obvious who was going to Win this match.

The first match in the Series, was freakin awesome! The Tables Match, wasn’t as good, still good, just not as good as I had hoped.

But then I always find Tables Match lack. They really aren’t all that exciting unless quite a few Tables are used. Hence my moan at only one member of the Team going through a Table. Which means people have to put themselves through a few tables, or they introduce other weapons to make them more entertaining.

However, Ladder Matches can be fantastic on their own. And also work better with more weapons.

If a match is So Good, you should just watch it.

There’s nothing I can say to do it justice, so just watch it.

This match was awesome, best in the Series so far and I will put into the Match of the Year Nomination, however! I might also take it out given on how good the final match in the Series is, and people are saying IT IS AMAZING!

Super hyped!

Sucks it’s not at BFG though.

The Wolves pick up the win.

Bram vs. Gunner

This match happened.

Not sure why they put it between the top two matches of the card.

Earlier on in the night Gunner told Shaw that Brittany has a thing for him, to which he replies “My mind is already occupied with someone else”.

Billy and Chuck, I’m telling you.

Gunner “injured” his knee, Shaw went crazy and got involved, accidently clothesline’d Gunner and Bram picked up the win.

Despite the crap story with Gunner and Shaw, Bram’s rise to the top is quite interesting. They keep pushing how good he is. And guess what, I believe it. Because he’s impressive, he wins, he fights, he doesn’t back down. Not like Malendez, who gets his ass kicked because he politely turned down being a lackey! Why would I like that!!!?

Bobby Roode vs. Bobby Lashley – World Heavyweight Championship

I wonder if Lashley will be called Bobby again now?

Another thing that goes through my head is wondering what Roode was thinking when he decided to wear some crappy looking sex jacket to the ring.

His Robe was awesome. It worked. This looks terrible.

Something else that is pretty damn awesome, is Lashley’s new music. I’ve always liked it, but I enjoy how it just changes the mood. He feels like a force. I like that.

Which brings me to what I really, really don’t like.

Lashley rolls out the ring and MVP calls for a Time-Out, and the ref lets them have it. MVP and King wipe his face, and continue to get involved.

Lashley should not have these guys outside for him. He’s supposed to be this beast, he’s supposed to be unstoppable.

When you give him help, he looks weak. He shouldn’t be booked weak. You shouldn’t have his friends wiping his face! No!! That’s just No….Nooo!! NOOO!!

He’s even doing a Face-Palm… could it get any better!

Do you know what I do like, is the Roode Bomb. I enjoy the move, but I detest the name.

Utterly stupid name for a super cool move.

What makes it cooler is Roode using it to “Roode Bomb” Lashley right to the floor, and Credit to Lashley for taking it, literally right to the floor. Looked really painful, and also really cool!

In the end though Roode leap frogged Lashley’s attempted Spear and “injured” his leg, to which Lashley then speared him and won.

I don’t know quite where to place the match.

The match was really good! Really good! But it’s not so memorable. I also feel this isn’t done yet.

Which means!

I knew Lashley was going to win well before this match was going to take place, EY spoiled it in an interview I read. So technically the Prediction doesn’t count!

Right now, I’m in the mood for Bound for Glory.

I want a great PPV just like Slammiversary was.

Though with all the problems in TNA right now, the booking, change arounds, no matches are really being built for the Biggest show of the year, in Japan of all places. The only thing they are building is James Storm’s revolution.

I’ve never really been that into South Park. I can respect Matt and Tray, I like their thinking and stance. Not so much their humour.

But if there is one thing they got right, it’s:

The best way to poke fun at how much Americans love themselves. I will be honest, I sort of sucks that the majority of the UK really isn’t that patriotic. UK and USA are two vastly different things to Chant.

I suppose though, when this episode of Impact was filmed, it would have aired on September 11th, in New York. So that’s cool, I get it.

I can understand the thinking of American Hero’s, and War Hero’s, but a lot of the time, you only hear negative things. What makes one of these guys a Hero? So many good Men and Women serve, but the ones who get injured or traumatized seem to be those that are worthy of Heroism.

I’m not going to kick off the Jobber Blogger by saying anything too much on that subject, but of course this all plays into the opening of the show, which as it is, has a lot of problems.

TNA: IMPACT WRESTLING – 10/9/14

Chris Malendez vs. DJ Z

Under no circumstances can TNA convince me they Signed Malendez because he’s a great Talent, they signed him because of the reputation, the media and the publicity that goes a long with it.

Chris’ story is awesome, I think he’s hugely admirable. But I just can’t see a bright future for him. I’m not sure how long he’s signed to TNA for, but I would be surprised if he’s still around by the time his contract his up.

A one legged Wrestler, makes headlines, a one legged American Hero draws attention.

He’s only impressive because of his limitation. Now if he had two legs, he wouldn’t have been anywhere close to working with TNA.

Let’s be fair shall we, his current in ring skill is based on his condition, and it is great. As someone who Hated Zack Gowen, I like Malendez. I think he has a good look, he’s impressive, agile, strength, awesome tattoos, cool music.

But to be able to Defeat DJ Z with a Samoan Drop, nope, not happening.

There is no way, At All that Malendez would ever be capable of defeating anyone on the TNA Roster. Just not possible.

For a “Sport” that struggles enough to find legitimency, adding a guy with a Winning Streak with one leg who really can’t Wrestle anywhere close to the Level of the TNA Roster, that just pisses me off.

I’m not trying to make this personal. I love his story, he seems like an awesome guy. Totally happy for him. But there is no way you can put him in the ring with Austin Aries, and expect that to be a great match. He wouldn’t be able to compete with him. DJ Z hit a Chop Block, it’s already looked as “Such a Heel move!” because he has one leg, it’s freakin’ Wrestling.

Imagine Aries running Circles around him, drop kicking him on the floor, diving over the ropes at him, he wouldn’t be able to do anything, and yet Malendez might beat him, with a Samoan Drop?

I noticed some of the padding fell off his False Leg, Gowen Wrestled without his prosthetic, a giant thick Metal Pole might cause some Damage for a guy who lands on it. Or has it land on them.

That seems like an accident waiting to happen.

Also I said this last time, but Bully and Devon’s Wrestling School, given the talent who has come from it that turned up in TNA, they need better training.

So Malendez beat Zema, which just shouldn’t happen. I get the “push”, but you only push him so far. Or by all means, push him up against Bobby Lashley, see what happens then. I seem to remember Lesnar obliterating Gowen. So you can copy that Storyline.

Samoan Drop my ass, he would have landed harder on a Back Drop, and no one loses on a Back Drop!

A nice 6man Tag to build up some much needed speed between Roode and Lashley’s collision next week.

Speaking of things I can do without, is the “tip toeing” around between Roode and EY. They’ve not ran the Video Package of “They were once like Brothers!” but you better believe it’s coming.

It was literally a few months back when Roode and EY started building this “mutual respect” thing before Roode’s face turn. All on the heels of their history, Team Canada mainly, and that they’re both Canadians. And in case if you forgot, in Canada, a Deal is a Deal!

Roode and EY are throwing around “You’re my Best Friend” in a bucket of sick love more than Barney the Dinosaur.

I can’t stand it. Why are you pushing this so much? If it’s anything like, oh I don’t know, EVERY OTHER TIME! TNA have pushed friendship, one of them is going to turn on the other. At this rate, it looks like EY might have an issue with Roode. Then we shall get the “They were once like Brothers!” Video Package of Bobby Roode screaming “You were my best friend!” which sobbing into a wet fish…. with a beard.

The Line that made you Face Palm with your inner palm was Roode saying “EY, you will always be a World Champion to me!”

I bet Roode himself cringed when he read that script.

It pisses me off, it’s like TNA feel this need to pander to the audience so much because they are mainly thick!

Stop telling me the same thing! I got it from them hugging and knowing history, sorted. I don’t need them to tell me it again, and again and again, whilst the announcers and video packages repeat it for me. If they had their way Roode and EY would be kissing each other on the cheek, slapping each others’ ass and getting Married like Billy and Chuck.

Okay so I’m have a good ranting session this week, it brings out my best material.

Let’s see, He’s Bigger, Tougher, Stronger, Faster, but the fact you can withstand his onslaught longer makes you think you will win? No, it means you will get your ass kicked just that little bit longer, before you inevitably lose.

Roode was such a good heel, now he’s becoming the whining do goody, Baby face that likes your favourite Ice Cream, Saturday night Television and Cuddles!

The crowd was good.

Roode won by defeating MVP with his Roode Bomb… the worst named Finisher going. It’s not even a Bombing type manoeuvre.

The Bromans and Velvet Sky vs. Knux, Crazy Steve and Rebel

Do you know what this booking means.. ROB TERRY SUCKS!

I don’t like Rob Terry, I don’t like the pairing of The Bromans with the Beautiful People (though I suspect they are out for their own motives), or that they will split and The Bromans will choose Bro’s over Ho’s. Probably happen.

This is the first time we’ve seen Rebel wrestle. She’s not good. To make matters worse she recently broke her arm. Apparently she’s very under trained. Which is a shame, I like her with Knux.

Which brings us to the best bit!

Now I believe he’s probably much better in the ring than we’ve ever seen. But the Character, is awesome. He makes it work, and he’s just on a whole different level. Knux, Terry, Rebel, all quite easily could be fired tomorrow and the entire Menagerie thing can carry on just fine without them.

Aside from the fact that the whole meaning of the name is a group of course.

Velvet picks up a win by holding the trunks of Rebel… too much.

EC3 vs. Rhino – Street Fight

I cannot believe that I just wrote “Street Fish!”

I’ve corrected it of course, but the fact my instinct went to Fish, amuses me greatly.

I suppose a Street Fish is pretty much a Street Shark, and they were awesome.

This whole thing kicked off with Kurt Angle, Mr. Fish himself, with his puckered up sucker lips.

Angle has never felt genuine, or real in his entire run as the Executive Director. He sounds so de-motivated that I just don’t believe a single word out of his mouth.

What I did like however was the whole “You don’t look like you’re ready to Wrestle.. good, I won’t make you… it’s a Street Fight!” Or fish, I’m easy.

The match was what it was.

Thankfully EC3 won, this whole thing is putting over EC3 more than anything else. Was that the point?

The crowd seemed to be enjoying cheering for him too. Hey, whatever, Rhino sucks.

I get the thinking of Rhino being a New York guy, given his ECW heritage. But when you put him as a mindless idiot, even if he decides he wants to eat a guys Ass (his words, not mine), no body cares, because you booked him as a mindless idiot.

There’s only one thing I want to see now, is that mindless idiot get his ass kicked. So I’ve enjoyed it.

The new Knockouts Calandar is now a Storyline, so that’s exciting. Nothing sets the Knockouts Division apart from the Divas more than letting them post for a Calander in their skimpiest clothes then fall out with each other over who is prettier and petty jealousy.

That worked wonders.

And just like you would suspect, Velvet and Angelina are having issues again. Why, dear lord, why, do they need to be this way? Why does it have to be Angelina forcing herself as the dominent one. Why can’t they just be bad together.

I hate that.

Clearly Angelina is the leader, because it’s a Wrestling business and Velvet struggles to run the ropes, let alone anything more complicated then that. Case closed, facts are facts people.

ODB is in the Calandar.. but not the Company. Flaw number one.

Brooke is in the Calander, not seen her in how long?

Then Disco Bane crashed the party with some of that Dubstep’z and stole Gail’s Knockouts Championship. Which led them to fight each other for a while.

Also Bane beat up some guys, Taz seemed suprised. I do like the fact that they picked the skinniest guys around. Not really head turning levels of impressive.

Could be worse though, she could be Chyna. Come to TNA for one match, fall over whilst picking up Jarrett then leaving right away to go back to Porn…. and look like a man.

Wow… I’m brutal this week! I like it!

James Storm and The Great Sanada vs. Austin Aries and Tajiri

I always thought some objects, tools and lark would be universal. Like a Spanner, it would still be Spanner in a different country, just a different name, same job.

Yet apparently in Japan their tools are a little different. Evidently their Buzz Saws must be rather slow, dull, out of shape and boring.

“You still got it!” – Funny, I don’t remember a time when he had it.

The great leader James Storm, who won his first match in ages by being on the Winning team, seems like an odd fit for the character he’s playing.

Again, I like the idea behind it. I just don’t like the execution. I don’t think the Silver Bathrobe and Beer Bottle make Storm look like Revolutionary Leader. He looks like a Drunk who got a shower in his robe.

Team 3D vs. The Hardyz vs. The Wolves – Tables Match

Another good match, but still not on the Level I’m looking for.

I hate to say it, but Matt really seems a step behind everyone else and it’s rather noticeable.

My originally prediction was quickly turned around when I realised the pattern. Which now means, it’s less impressive.

The Wolves are going to win in the Ladder Match next week, then I imagine we will have Full Metal Mayhem, combining the Tables and the Ladders. Much like how TLC was put together originally.

This isn’t really a problem, only that you know who will win. But you don’t know, is who will win the actual match that matters, which would be the final one.

Another thing I dislike about Tag-Team Tables matches, is that One guy needs to go through a Table. I get that it can get rather confusing after a while, but both guys need to go through a Table for a match to be won. That’s the best way to do it!

The Hardyz picked up the win with Jeff dropping a Swanton from the top rope to the floor putting Eddie through a Table.

Also how naff do the Wolves look now, losing twice, and Eddie being the deciding factor both times (I believe).

Jeff climbed up a Ladder whilst Matt dragged his sorry ass as high as he could, out of breath, panting he issued the Challenge for next week.

Which brings us to next week – No Surrender!

Knockouts Battle Royal

Homicide vs. Samoa Joe

Hardyz vs. Team 3D vs. Wolves – Ladder Match

and

Bobby Lashley vs. Bobby Roode – World Championship

Yay, time for the Predictions!

I forgot to do this segment the last few times, so let’s drop it like it’s hot.

If the Knockouts Battle Royal is for the Championship then Gail will Win.

If it’s a Number One Contenders.. the smart choice would be Havok, but I will go with Velvet.

One, Two, Three! It’s as easy as A,B,C for all of those Jackson 5 fans out there! On a side note, I keep seeing Michael Jacksons new album in stores…. I’m curious to buy it, I found his last few Albums to be of a lesser standard, given the odd occasional song. Perhaps he’s found more inspiration now… you know, being dead an all.

Wow, now that was dark to start off this weeks Jobber Blogger. But hey, it’s not that dark, it’s not like I’m wanted for murder and used it as a platform to taunt such actions. I just think its ridiculous to put out an album. Ah who cares.

What you should care about is that I have actually started The Jobber Blogger on Sunday! It is exaxctly 6:37pm! So I’m not late yet! Of course I need to write the entire thing, create all the stupid pictures and then go post it around everywhere on the internet for no body to read! UP YOURS NO BODY!

TNA: IMPACT WRESTLING – 3/9/14

Yes we’re in September! Holy bat fanny packs everybody, we’re sailing toward Christmas! I also have a strange feeling I’ve been doing this for two years or more now. I seem to have missed my Second Birthday! So lets Celebrate it today along with my Dad’s Birthday! Wooo!!!

If only we could celebrate TNA’s success!

MVP, Kenny King and Bobby Lashley kicked off the show. It’s about damn time Lashley takes centre stage and actually is starting to feel important and significant as the World Champion. Which in an ironic way, this entire opening segment was the exact opposite of important and significant.

It’s a shame to see that Wrestling is still stuck in that territory of saying the blatantly obvious remarks.

MVP blabbed on about how no body is tougher than Lashley, and then out came Samoa Joe to tell Lashley “he’s not even the toughest one in the ring right now”.

Oooo big talk, and then a match was made, which could have been done without this fart of an opening.

The only positive was that in New York, Joe draws a huge reaction, so it was kind of cool. Just ridulously Childish.

Least they skipped the part where they shout about each others asses.

Taryn Terrell vs. Gail Kim – Knockouts Championship

I really don’t get the hype between these two. Their matches were good, this one was less good. Still good though.

The fact they made a video package for the match stating it to be the “toughest rivalry in knockouts history”. Really? Has it been the absolute toughest?

Because I seem to remember Taryn being a ref, Gail pushed her around, she got put on the roster, they had two matches, then she left. All of the above took around what, 1 and a half months? Then she came back for a couple of matches and now she’s this big deal that has a history no one else has. Meh.

Hot mess, no sense.

Although the Knockouts are fantastic and are capable of having awesome, awesome wrestling matches, things like doing a Neck-Breaker on the Steel Steps because they are women, seem to be the proving ground.

Quite honestly, I think Gail is capable of having much better matches, and she doesn’t need an opponent who will throw herself on the floor to prove how good she is. I get it, women taking big risks and doing big spots, you don’t see it often. But there is a style and a fenes that comes with the territory. Mickie James vs. Tara in the Cage, sure they did some big spots, but they performed on a level that was worthy of the main event, regardless of the Cage.

Bugs me is all.

Taryn then kicked out of Eat da Feet, which bugged me more.

Least she didn’t win. I don’t dislike her, I’m just not crazy about her either. She’s not ready to beat Gail for the Championship.

Though she might take the belt at Bound for Glory, which I think was the plan last year?

Then much to my surprise Skrillex showed up.

I actually bought Recess (his latest Album) his Music skills seem to have gone downhill now that he’s in TNA.

No, I’m joking. It wasn’t Skrillex, but it was Havok, who came out to some naff Dubstep tune, like an Undertaker Bane hybrid… also a woman.

She’s impressive, seems fairly capable. I don’t like her scream, I appreciate the different gimmick, I don’t think she pulls it off all that well though.

Time will tell, I’m often converted.

Robbie E and Jesse were competing last week via Tinder (the dating App) and both matched dates with some TNA Knockouts.

I honestly have no idea what the point was, at first I thought it was to maybe boost Tinder with some kind of Advertising deal with TNA….

Or a way to introduce Robbie E and Brooke Adams (Miss Tessmacher) who are dating apparently in real life.

But no, they matched with The Beautiful People and poor DJ Z pretended to be happy to be alone and annoying.

Meh

Gunner and Samuel Shaw vs. Magnus and Bram

This was quite nice, I do like Tag-Team Wrestling but both of these teams clearly are only together to build the seperate storylines.

Shaw apologised to Gunner for wearing his Jacket last week and that he just wanted to know what it was like to be a Hero, is it worth mentioning Brittany seemed to have taken a liking to him. I suppose they might attempt a weird stalker kind of pairing between these two. Might work?

What was more interesting to me was the Bram and Magnus situation. For those keen fans out there, you might have noticed this is the first time they’ve entered using Bram’s theme rather than Magnus’.

No doubt this plays on the idea that Bram is now a bigger star given his success against Abyss, and clearly Magnus’ fall from Grace after losing the World Championship to Eric Young.

Whereas I think it’s fairly obvious Bram and Magnus will battle each other at some point in the near future, possibly making Bram the bigger star. I’m not sure what direction Gunner and Shaw will go in.

Gunner “injured” his leg which led to the downfall of the match. Shaw then screamed in a protective way.

Yeah I know, it’s hard to really care about any of this.

It does show that TNA have pushed too many guys. Magnus was being prepped for the next big star, now he’s nothing. Gunner had a good push, now he’s gone again. It’s hard to see anyone as being really credible.

I’m going to be honest, this match wasn’t as good as I thought it would be.

Sure it was “competative” but it was also fast paced. It felt like they were only given a short time slot and they had to make up for that. The match was fine, high impact, impressive, but it’s timing wasn’t there.

“What do I know”, well a lot, I’m a Wrestling fan, I watch the product, have done for years. You can tell when a match is perfectly paced and when one feels rushed. Unfortunately TNA do rush a lot of matches. Given that this match was the top match of the night, but didn’t draw the main event and was slotted half way through and so quick, it almost felt irrelevant despite what was on the line.

I feel like this might be worth a second watch, but when it’s just big move after big move, high impact after high impact you can tell they are trying to pull out all the stops, but they don’t have the time to let each move settle, each impact breathe.

Which is a shame, it seemed like a good match, good pairing, just a little rushed to fit in.

A good string of counter moves to close out the bout which ended with Roode dropped EY with the Roode Bomb for the Win.

I get it, the X-Division stars are great, now let them have time to shine indepedantly, what actually pisses me off is that Low Ki and Homicide are getting the entrances, getting the spot light. Sure, Low Ki is great, Homicide is alright, the only reason they are getting the push currently is because of this TNA History revial. Samoa Joe is the Champ, Low Ki vs. Joe, Homicide vs. Joe, it’s been done, people like it. More importantly the New York fans Like it, so they get it.

Now what annoys me is that Low Ki and Homicide aren’t actively back on the roster. So guys like Manik, DJ Z, Tigre Uno and yes even Crazy Steve, who in my opinion are better than Low Ki and Homicide in most areas, and all of them just better than Homicide full stop. Yet they get buried over TNA’s insisent push for ratings and atmoshpere.

Sure, you could call that good booking? But also, it’s terrible booking. You’re giving guys who will probably be gone again in no time the time to bury your regular superior talent, all for the sake of them getting a pop, then losing to your Champ.

Awesome.

Homicide won. Which was also obvious.

Low Ki got the last entrance, but Homicide got a full entrance, which just goes to show where they are in TNA’s minds. Again, it’s the crowd response that pulls them higher.

I’m sure it will boil down to Samoa Joe vs. Low Ki vs. Homicide. Now the only person who won’t win that match is Homicide. Low Ki might. Joe will most likely retain though.

Hey, it might not happen. I’m just guessing.

What is interesting though is that Storm and The Great Sanada came out to steal Manik at the end of the show, so he will be next for Storm’s “Revolution” so that’s cool. Maybe they will ditch the Manik gimmick and bring him back as TJ Perkins?

Austin Aries then hit the ring to moan about Storm and Sanada from last week, but it was all to introduce Tajiri.

Tajiri, now that’s a name that takes you back huh. Shame he always sucked. Now it’s 2014 and I’ve not seen a Wrestler look more out of shape.

Awesome, I’m so excited now.

Spud vs. Rhino

Spud has raised his game for Bad hair cuts once more and EC3 has thrown him to the …. Rhino?

Before this match got set up they all wasted time in the ring earlier on in the night. Though interestingly EC3 had 3 demands after the actions of Bully Ray putting Dixie through a Table – Bully gets fired (which he is supposedly gone from the company, but working on a per appearence schedual), the words Hardcore and Extreme are never to be used in TNA again (let’s hope!) and he gets more respect.

So yeah, Bully getting fired could quite easily happen at the hands of EC3.

Spud is awesome! He recently spoke about how happy he was that TNA had the Chief of Staff idea, because he knew he wasn’t doing anything amazing with them, and his work wasn’t really shining. I expected him to be fired before long, but glad he was given the opportunity to do something different.

I’d say you will struggle to find anyone more entertaining than Spud right now in Wrestling, he knows what he’s doing and knows what to get the results he wants. Not only that, but people love it.

Clearly he wasn’t going to do much against Rhino and shortly suffered a Gore and a defeat. The big story was EC3 just leaving Spud in the ring. So that might build to something.

Hopefully they won’t try and turn Spud face, because it just wouldn’t work.

Samoa Joe vs. Bobby Lashley

I’m sure this match was put into place to build Lashley’s credibility as Champion. With him crossing over into MMA at the same time, they want to make sure he’s a force.

He’s defeated Eric Young, Jeff Hardy, Austin Aries and now Samoa Joe.

The issue at hand is that you can make an argument for Joe losing because of the interfernce from Kenny King. Perhaps they want Joe to be the big tough guy that can take down Lashley.

I really don’t think Joe should be that guy. But again, with the Crowd on his side, he has a certain drive in his actions, and it really shows.

I’m hoping Lashley has a long Championship run. Though I would like Storm to be on top as a top Heel, and with his “revolution” it could happen?

Impact was pretty packed this week again, I do wish they cut out some of the crap that isn’t needed to set up matches.

A lot of the time what they do in the ring could be done backstage in half the time. A lot of the time you don’t need any build up to set up a match.

Full sail ahead for next week’s show – The Hardyz vs. The Wolves vs. Team 3D – Tables Match.

It’s my second day off after my lovely 10 day stint at work, and I think it’s just finally hit me.

Having a nice nap during the day seems to have made things all the worse! But, here we are!

Quick shout out goes to the Cage Amateurs UK team of Jon and Dan, not only for posting up my ramblings for as long as they have, but just for them being awesome guys and sending me a free t-shirt!

Yes, a picture might follow! Just not right now!

TNA talk time, and it’s quite easy to say that TNA is Getting Wild!!! No, don’t get ahead of yourselves, it’s only getting wild because they’ve been offered a TV Deal by the Discovery Channel, not a bad idea, linking EY’s Off the Hook show with TNA. However the budget they will give TNA will drastically change their product, so it’s a last resort I believe.

Apparently Netflix forked out some ridiculous fee for the rights to some TV show I forgot the name of. That’s a pretty damn good budget. I still think the Online Streaming Market is a good market to get into. I suppose you can say that the WWE Network is under performing. Though I would bet the vast majority of their audience and TNA’s have Netflix, or a product similar. Put it on there, worldwide, no pesky TV limitations, try Live shows? Small extra charge for a PPV, and put out the show at the same time, World Wide. Awesome idea!

I’m sure there’s a lot more to it than that and I have no idea about anything.

TNA: IMPACT WRESTLING – 27/8/14

Kurt kicked off the show by standing up in the crowd of the New York fans. Maybe too close to the fans… especially this guy

I did find it funny that the show went all “Wrestling” quickly, and I mean that in terms of being a typical Wrestling talking match, rather than actually Wrestling.

MVP, Lashley and King hit the ring and poor Kurt just stood next to those fans for quite some time saying nothing…. doing nothing. It’s like they forgot he was there. And also how I used to feel when standing near people. End up sort of in a group, just standing there… too embarrassed to walk away, then people I didn’t know would turn up, people I did know left… and I was just stuck, standing near people I didn’t know, starring at them whilst they talked about crap I had no interest in. Ahh, to be shy again.

Waste of my frickin’ time!

Thankfully MVP was back on form at actually being good on the mic, then for no reason, At All, Tommy Dreamer got involved.

Tommy Dreamer, who has no relevance to this situation was put in this situation. My god! I’ve never noticed how much of a whiney git Dreamer is. Has it always been his “thing” to be a suck up?

Why does he need to get involved in everything and tell people how good they are? How much better they can be. I don’t remember him doing this before?

Dreamer who took it upon himself to tell Fortune some years ago how good they all were, then got his ass kicked. He recently came out to tell Dixie how lovely she is, and got hit in the nuts. Now he’s come out to tell MVP, King and Lashley at how far they’ve fallen, to once again get his ass kicked.

Isn’t he supposed to be a talk from the heart in an edgy kind of way. This is just pathetic. Also hilarious. If it’s meant to be serious, then it’s a terrible characteristic. However, having Dreamer tell everyone how lovely they are and he getting beaten up for it, I’m down with that.

Lashley vs. Dreamer – Street Fight

So here’s the problem, and it’s called Lashley vs. Dreamer.

Dreamer has always been the guy who looks like he least belongs in a ring. That’s not to say he can’t wrestle or perform. He just doesn’t look like a Wrestler. He looks like a crew guy who got caught up in something.

Whereas Lashley is arguably the most well built Professional Wrestler going.

I supposed that’s the dynamic of this particular booking.

Lashley took a few good shots from the weapons, but he kept it a Wrestling match and that is how he defeated Dreamer and thankfully it wasn’t too much of a struggle for him.

See they’re building Lashley well now, making him the Destroyer, a true Wrestler, who can’t be beat. Aside from the fact he’s won two of his toughest matches because they made an error, rather than his superiority, that’s the only downside.

So the new Knockout – Havok is making her debut next week. Not sure if everyone knew it was a Knockout yet?

Either way, looking forward to it, she looks like a Female Bane….. I’m judging that purely on the mask, no idea what she actually looks like. (Just to cover my tracks on what could have been an insult!) Yay!

Gunner was hanging out in his Room with Samuel Shaw. Yup, it gets weirder believe it or not.

This was one of those strange to place Wrestling backstage segments again. Because it’s meant to look like a “scene” yet it’s Wrestling, which is based in reality, so there is obviously a Camera Man in the room.

It’s a weird mix, top it off with some bad acting, and well, it’s Wrestling I guess?

Shaw pretended to be drawing, then decided to wear Gunner’s military jacket and salute him.

I’m guessing we’re supposed to see that either Shaw IS crazy, or he’s developing a kind of affection for Gunner.

If this thing turned into a Gay storyline, I think it would catch people off guard. I’d find it funny, so why not. Can’t be any worse than Claire Lynch.

Whilst on the topic of the Knockouts, it appears that Velvet might be distancing herself from TNA. Bully’s contract is now up, so he’s effectively left the company, though he will be at Bound for Glory for the Hall of Fame.

I’m still hopeful Bully isn’t done with TNA. But this apparent relationship between Bully and Velvet, one would imagine that her distancing herself could also be in part due to his departure.

See, this wasn’t a bad match. Taryn is good, she’s good at the more unusual things you wouldn’t see a Knockout doing. The crazy things.

But she’s not that technically good either, though miles better than Velvet… but that’s another story.

I’m easily more of a Madison fan, but whatever, there’s still something about Taryn that just doesn’t seem to “click” as a full package.

What was interesting was Madison’s attempt at cheating, putting her feet on the Ropes. Maybe they think there aren’t enough Heel Knockouts, perhaps they think Madison works better as a heel?

I’m open to her being in the Beautiful People again, hopefully Velvet does stick around, if she goes I don’t think Angelina would be far behind her. That would suck.

But hey, let’s stay on topic, Taryn won. Now she’s off to face Gail Kim for the Knockouts Championship, and guess what, she shouldn’t win.

But she might…

Homicide, DJ Z, Manik vs. Tigre Uno, Crazy Steve and Low Ki

Random but awesome 6-man X-Division Tag.

Interesting pairing between all of these guys too, given that DJ Z is the only real Heel.

Again, the latter part of Low Ki’s entrance was the only one Televised, so quite obvious who is getting put over.

Uno took his time to shine once more, and he is just excellent! Hopefully he will be put in a match again soon, where he isn’t just “there” to fill in the gaps. Uno vs. Low Ki, I’d like to see that.

Awesome, Fast Paced, Excellent match! Low Ki, picked up the win.

Bobby Roode and Eric Young had one of those “Respect Talks” to each other for their match next week to determine the Number One Contender.

I love how this was played off as a big deal, and struggle to decide the correct action. Despite this was the most obvious course of action, with a Triple Threat not being out of the question either.

Sure, EY and Roode have a history, but it’s not like a really well documented on screen Friendship, aside from their time in Team Canada all of those years ago.

Don’t think they really need to let them telling each other how much they like one another, but it didn’t not work either. Them getting fired up about tearing the Roof Down next week seemed to get a big pop, and no doubt nice Video Footage.

Here’s the thing though, and it gets sticky.

Eric Young defeated Bobby Roode twice, yup, TWICE! To retain the World Championship.

And EY has never been able to defeat Bobby Lashley, at all, or even get close.

Yet Roode seems like the most legit guy to challenge Lashley, and he’s being billed as that. But on paper, Roode couldn’t beat EY, so therefore Roode shouldn’t be able to beat Lashley (as far as logic goes). And EY has been defeated by Lashley so many times, that he’s not going to stand a chance.

So what’s the point? Unless they do swing a Triple Threat. Either way, I’d like Lashley to keep the belt. I’ve wanted Storm on top for some time now, and I’m into this idea of him forming a Revolution, he’d be a good figure head. So my perfect idea, is Lashley remains dominant, till the onslaught of Storm and his Revolution. Heel on Heel.

I like that idea.

Ethan Carter the Third vs. Rhino

Remember that guy I made fun of in the crowd a few weeks back? No… well up yours!

^ This guy. Yup, even TNA are mocking him now, gave him some more screen time and Taz and Tenay burst out laughing at the poor guy. I found it funny.

Something else I found rather funny, was when Tenay and Taz were talking about Dixie’s interview from last week, Taz making some comment about how Mike should have asked her something. Tenay responded saying it must have got edited out, to which Taz brilliantly replied “I thought they didn’t edit anything on this show”. Who knows if that was scripted, but Impact is so badly and poorly edited at times, that I enjoyed this comment.

I also liked how Taz and Tenay had to tell Rhino’s story during this match to try and make you think he’s the good guy. His alliance with EC3 and Dixie was only about money, and they were never friends.

Yup, you want people to be against EC3 and on Rhino’s side, well apart from the fact Rhino has some history people will latch onto, Rhino does look like an idiot in all of this.

So yeah, I routed for EC3, and much to my enjoyment he got himself a Chair and beat the high holy hell out of Rhino with it. To the point where Spud told him to Calm Down.

I enjoyed this, it makes me like EC3, and I’m against Rhino throughout this crappy storyline, so I enjoyed that more.

The Great Sanada vs. Austin Aries

Storm came out to introduce Sanada, talk about his Revolution and that Sanada is the “first of many”. So I am liking the idea. Again, Storm being on a losing streak doesn’t exactly make him a good mentor.

Sanada debuted his new look, which is also The Great Muta’s old look. Not very original of Storm really.

I did quite like it though. What I appreciated more is that Sanada is supposed to be the one put over, but he didn’t bury Aries.

Aries was as legit as ever, but Sanada was playing dirty and Storm was getting involved, so I’m cool with Aries taking the fall.

I particularly liked Sanada’s counter to the Brain Buster by Biting Aries’ hand. “Biting” is obviously used a fair bit in Wrestling, but to have Sanada with his arms out, Aries’ hand in mouth, as he pulled himself out of the hold. Nice touch.

In the end though Storm shook the ropes to make Aries fall from the top, Sanada sprayed the mist in his face then finished him off with a Superkick for the win.

I look forward to where this goes, and in a lot of ways this felt like old wrestling. Having a manager out there, debuting his new talent, trying to put him over. I don’t know why, but the appearance helped too, I liked it. I look forward to where this leads and hope Storm actually brings more people into this revolution.

Chris Malendez had his Debut, least in appearance.

It’s a weird one. I get why he’s impressive, I get why it’s an amazing thing to achieve, I get why he’s respected. I just don’t see longevity in his career.

I honestly feel TNA’s signing of an “American Hero” is more for publicity than anything else. I liked the story of Anderson putting him in touch with Bully and Devon. But then Bully and Devon were called the “best trainers” and I think Rob Terry came from their school, either way Jesse Neal did, and he sucked.

Not to mention he was in the Marines, Navy? I don’t think he got free training.

I don’t mean this to sound harsh, but the idea of a one legged Wrestler doesn’t interest me, if anything I find it off putting. It is fantastic to be able to get where he is, but there will always be a limit of what he can do, always.

Zack Gowen is obviously the comparison, and I hated him. It bugs me to this day that his only win, ONLY WIN, was against Matt Hardy. That should never have happened. EVER!

Team 3D vs. The Hardyz vs. The Wolves – Match 1

Honestly, I put no notes. Well, I wrote down that Team 3D won, and that the match was awesome.

This is what I will say, this match was fantastic! We knew it would be.

There isn’t anything I can really say to do it justice, just watch it.

However, as good as this match was, I didn’t put it forward for a Match of the Year Nomination.

Now, why didn’t I do that?

Two reasons, number one, this match though special, isn’t as special as the first two matches between Hardyz and the Wolves, and Hardyz vs. Team 3D.

Number two, and this is the main reason, this was Match Number 1, these are going to get crazy good, I know it. So this won’t be the best, and the best, will be the best, and then that will be put forward I’m sure.

I love Tag-Team Wrestling!

Good show, no more major news regarding TNA currently, Manik has re-signed, so that’s good.

Or in other terms, it’s issue #121, but who cares? I like to be tantalising.

Speaking of things being Tantalising, what a mess TNA is in huh?

Bully Ray wants out because TNA just can’t negotiate his contract, and he’s said to not be the only one. With TNA’s TV Negotiations with Spike being up in the air, they can’t even think about re-signing any of their bigger named stars.

So that leaves us where?

TNA has brought back the Six Sided ring and done their best to push the product, but it’s not sticking.

Not to mention there is a major concern with Bound for Glory this year as it takes place in Tokyo, apparently the event isn’t even being plugged.

It will be a big arena.. with no one in it. Least the Japanese audience have the reputation of being “silent” so hey, it might not be noticeable. That’s called looking at the glass half full folks!

Another dumb thing TNA have done is the Hall of Fame. A company that hasn’t been around more than 15 years has its own Hall of Fame. It’s blatantly and painfully obvious they just want to induct those the WWE will no doubt induct down the line. Hey, its their money right?

But after 2014 is all and done with, what will TNA’s Elite Hall of Fame look like?

The very people that should be in a TNA Hall of Fame are still actively in their prime, and also don’t work for the company.

Whatever it is, TNA just doesn’t work. It’s as simple as that, it just feels like it’s a matter of time. They’re pushing it out there, and it’s just slipping through their fingers, one day, in a year or more, sooner or later, TNA will eventually close its doors at this rate.

The ironic thing is the guy who loved TNA more than anyone else, wasn’t allowed to have control, so he left, being Jarrett. That set off a string, with the likes of AJ Styles most importantly wanting out.

Now here we are, Bully Ray being the top guy, a Locker-room leader, talking high praise of TNA, rallying up the guys in the back, letting them know TNA is a secure place to work. Now he wants out too.

I thought Jarrett was storyline, I thought AJ would be storyline, now Bully seems to be storyline, but I’m sure that’s because they need an exit strategy.

It’s called Dixie Carter, who will be the death of TNA – but more on that later.

TNA: HARDCORE JUSTICE – 20/8/14

Yes, it was the return of Hardcore Justice! Which didn’t feel like a PPV, but they’re not supposed to anymore. What is an interesting fact, is that Tommy Dreamer, Rhino, Al Snow, Bully Ray and Devon all Hardcore guys, all from ECW, all in New York, on a show All About Hardcore! And none of them had a match. So that was nice.

Bram vs. Abyss – Stairway to Janice

You know, in a lot of ways, Abyss sucks these days. He’s kind of the same, he is capable of being the same, but he just doesn’t feel the same. He doesn’t feel like that force, and if I’m honest, he just doesn’t look like it.

I hope his current “thing” leads to him getting back to where he was. I’m not a fan of his new attire at all, and I wasn’t that keen on his old one. I miss the Denim Shirt look.

On the plus side it does seem like he is growing his hair back, so I guess Joseph Park is all wrapped up and done with. It was a good idea, it just didn’t really go anywhere, but yes, as I’ve said many times, that is TNA’s writing in a nut shell – good ideas, poor execution.

Which means the interesting dynamic is Bram. He’s like a more legit Abyss these days. He’s new, he’s arguably more intense. I hope he actually likes these kinds of matches, and they haven’t just booked him in them. Because if he genuinely likes the Hardcore style, then that’s awesome, because he’s very good at it.

With the build up to this match, I actually thought TNA might go real old school and bring out Barbed Wire Massacre, but thankfully they didn’t, because those were pretty damn brutal to watch.

Although the Stairway to Janice is a little bit of a dumb idea, and Abyss much like Mick Foley is always at the hands of his own weapons. So it would be nice if Abyss got to “stretch” a little. Though he did hit Joe with it not so long ago. I think that was Abyss? I honestly don’t remember anymore.

Bram dived through a Barbed Wire board, Abyss was tipped off a Ladder into the other, Bram took a Black Hole Slam onto the Tacks, but in the end Bram with Janice, once again took the win.

Realistically this should mean it’s over and done with, Bram wins. Which in my head says Abyss needs to go crazy. And then it’s done and better. Yes…

Bram and Magnus had an interesting little meet up backstage with Magnus looking at Bram as the bigger star. So they’re probably going to collide at some point. But currently with Bram being as dominant as he is, what chance does Magnus have? A Body Warmer? Really?!

EC3, Spud and Rhino

This is something I wasn’t expecting to take away from this week’s show, and it’s called “I actually quite like EC3”.

When did this happen?

I did however like it when MVP, Lashley and King beat him up in the back, but this very segment was the typical nerve grinding trash that annoys me, and I think I swung the wrong way to what they wanted.

On a side note, Spud’s hair cut is just getting ridiculously bad….

It could be worse, he could pour a bucket of Ice Water over his head. Because that’s a thing now.

Hey Ho! It’s gone Viral! But Hey Ho! Everyone’s lost track of the point of it, and they’re just pouring water over themselves… such is life, such is the internet, such are idiots.

Full God Damn Stop!

And People Say Wrestling’s Dumb

EC3 passed the Blame for Dixie going through a Table right onto Rhino’s soldiers. And sure, it’s the whole Storyline thing again, but really, wasn’t Rhino Hired for the sole purpose, of not letting that happen. So EC3 isn’t exactly Wrong.

I’ve suddenly found a Reason to dislike Rhino, because EC3 blamed him, he then went all Brock Lesnar type of High Pitch squeally talking about Ethan’s Ass.

Also something about Dirt Porn?

Could have meant Dirt Poor, but my mind only works a certain way, and if that way is funnier, I’m going with it.

Then Mr. Crappy Hardcore got his Ass kicked by EC3, and I liked it! I enjoyed Ethan kicking the crap out of Rhino, and even pushing Spud to the floor. So if that was your intention, well done. Also I guess this means EC3 and Rhino will have a match, and then once again, Rhino will get fired.

Because that’s how he rolls…. not literally…. but also,……. literally.

Low Ki vs. Samoa Joe – X-Division Championship

I guess it’s no secret, I’m not really that wild about Samoa Joe.

I like him, I’m glad he’s still around, I just don’t know where to place him. I’d happily have put him in a strong “TV / Global” Championship run. But he doesn’t quite fit the bill for the main events anymore. And I mean in the best of ways.

When Joe debuted, he was intimidating to watch, let alone think about being in the ring with him. He doesn’t command that presence anymore, but his reputation has stuck with him.

However, against Low Ki, in New York, as the new X-Division Championship, I’m glad to say, this is the first time I’ve seen that Joe, in a long time.

When he took the brunt of the chop and kick onslaught from Low Ki, then built up steam from mid ring to connect with his Forearm to the head. That moment when Joe turns around all fired up and the crowd are going nuts for him, That, right there, is Samoa Joe, and it’s freaking cool!

This was the X-Division of old, it’s not just about being a High Flyer, it’s about the competition, the competative nature, and Joe showed that, as did Low Ki in spades. This was the most competitive and exciting X-Division Match since Austin Aries’ original run the Championship in 2012.

As I said, this is supposed to mark a new re-birth of the X-Division, and Joe fits the bill better than anyone else right now to carry that torch. For that reason alone, despite how awesome Low Ki is, we all knew Joe wasn’t going to lose that belt.

A Short Muscle Buster later, and Joe picked up the win.

But in terms of the matches and the style that built TNA Wrestling, this was it. It’s just a shame a lot of the top stars and pioneers aren’t around to join in.

That doesn’t stop Samoa Joe vs. Low Ki from going into the Match of the Year Nominations though.

Because it was that good!

Mr. Anderson vs. Samuel Shaw – I Quit

A bit of a random match to throw out there. It almost feels like Anderson and Shaw weren’t quite at the right point to have a match of this brutality again.

There really isn’t all that much you can say about the match either. But currenty, Anderson is still maintaining that level of what makes him cool. His new Anti-smoking program hits home too, so all is good.

Gunner came out to watch over the match, but in the end it was a nasty Arm-Bar that caused Shaw to Quit.

I’m struggling to find vast amounts of interest in this storyline anymore.

The Hardyz and Team 3D tossed around this “idea” of chasing the TNA World Tag-Team Championships. Which of course involves The Wolves. Now really, this is old news. Despite it being just announced on Television, TNA themselves announced it a few weeks back, but what I didn’t know, was why I love this idea so much!

It’s not just The Hardyz vs. Team 3D vs The Wolves.

It’s a freakin best of x2 Series. Shame it’s not 3, but the 3 teams involved give it that much needed wiggle room.

The first Team to win x2 Matches, win the Belts. Each match gets a new Stipulation, so we’re going to have this series run for a little while, and no doubt the deciding match will be Full Metal Mayhem. Probably Bound for Glory.

Also awesome on Matt sticking around for the foreseeable future, that’s a boost!

One of the other top promoted segments on this week’s show was Mike Tenays interview with Dixie Carter.

As I said last week, how the hell are we supposed to move on from Dixie’s “reign of terror” when she’s still part of the show.

Not only is she part of the show, but she’s coming back when she’s “healed”.

Now I love the fact they made her heel, against AJ Styles, that was perfect. Great timing. It started to run a little thin after AJ and Sting were “fired”.

I like the idea of putting Dixie front and centre of being the “problem” of TNA, and that gives people a source rather than just knowing the people behind the scenes are messing it up.

Which means this, no matter whose fault it is, Dixie on TV, doesn’t work. People hate it. People don’t want to watch it, people don’t want this in their Wrestling show, people don’t like seeing Dixie Carter, and more importantly, People Don’t Care About This Wrestling Storyline! To the point that TNA’s big Dixie vs. Bully – Tables lark, drew the lowest ratings, every single week. No one cares. Putting Dixie through a Table, that was cool, good moment, but that should have been it. It was finished. Now rather than it being the End, it’s back to being a New Beginning.

Who working at TNA has this constant plan for Dixie to be a Television Character. It was fundamental in Jeff Jarrett leaving, because he didn’t want Dixie on TV anymore. Yet despite the “All important Ratings” and despite how many don’t like it, they are still doing it. Stop!

Let it go.

I’m not saying never have her on TV agian, but for the love of anything fluffy and stained, let it breathe.

Is it bad that the pre-taped attacked from Angelina to Gail from “last week” looked as though it was filmed prior to this match… given that they were wearing the same attire as this week, rather than last.

Picky I know, but don’t BS me, least put some effort into it.

What makes it worse is this whole “Angelina doesn’t deserve a title shot” crap. Frickin’ hate it when Face GM’s and Heel GM’s bend the rules due to the good and bad guys. If there is a Wrestling rule, just stick to it. Even if it’s a sucky run of mill screw job, just stick to the contractual rematch clause. It doesn’t dissapear because “she’s been bad!”

Winds me up!

She isn’t capable of being bad! Look at that smile! =D

Guess what? The match was awesome, once again the Knockouts showing why they are credible, and once again the New York fans respecting it. I like that.

The Knockouts rule!

Though my biased love of Angelina Love makes me sad she didn’t win, and after a lovely Botox Injection into a Steel Chair connecting with Gail, I thought she might actually do it.

But alas not.

I hoped for a run – in aid from someone unexepected to then align themselves with The Beautiful People, but that didn’t happen either.

In the end, Gail managed to defeat Angelina and Velvet, who was active through-out the match, and the closing moments were this horrible looking back slam / fall, Gail delivered to Angelina onto a chair.

Unlike most moves “onto a chair” Angelina fully landed on the chair, and it looked dangerously close to Gail getting her Arm trapped under her. Thank fully everyone seems fine!

What was awkward was MVP, Lashley and King taking centre stage before the match got underway. Normally MVP shines on the mic, but he seemed to be struggling and it just wasn’t all that pleasent, or all that enjoyable.

Despite my dislike for James Storm becoming Sanada’s new Mentor, I am now actually rather intrigued.

I still don’t see Storm in a “I am your greatness, I am the light” kind of way, like making him bow to him and crap.

However! I do see Storm as the kind of guy to start a Revolution, and a Revolution of the Japanese Culture is interesting. The Great Muta’s apprentice being pulled away from him by Storm, and Storm shaping Sanada into something darker to battle The Great Muta, as The Great Sanada – That, has my interest!

The only problem now, is that Storm is 100% pathetic. In terms of he hasn’t won a match in ages, his only World Championship reign lasted a Week, and his first time so show Sanada how it’s done, he doesn’t even come close to winning his match.

So why, in all of the hells, would Sanada look at James Storm as the one to lead him to greatness, because Storm himself, hasn’t even achieved it.

I have to say this, and I hate to admit it, but this match sucked.

For a Main Event, in a Cage, it was pretty lame.

Felt rather rushed, nothing was really all that engaging. The double Tower of Doom from either side was cool. But with EY and Roode climbing to the top and racing each other down, I fully expected there to be another match or a restart or something of that nature to take place. But instead it just ended. It felt very anti-climatic.

Obvious Roode was going to win, but I’m glad EY did too. He is still holding onto that level of credibility since he won the World Championship. That is nice to see, wonder how long it will last?

Good show over-all, just the more TNA news you hear the more it taints the product.

One Hundred and Twenty times, and I’ve blabbed on about crap! Oh yes, good old TNA: Wrestling, Impact Wrestling, WRESTLING WRESTLING WRESTLING!

What a weird and wonderful place you find yourselves in. So putting Dixie through a Table boosted the ratings to continue TNA’s current run of “a good month”, putting the much hyped, four month build up of putting a Woman through a Table the highest rated Impact show since February. Which means! Back in February they had a higher rated show and Dixie needn’t have gone through a Table.

ALAS!

This means nothing really. Well aside from the Network bosses who decide to pump money into your programme. And given that Spike TV isn’t looking so keen on renewing their deal with TNA, I suppose ratings mean everything.

Which is good news to know that the ratings dropped… a lot, this week. Despite this being a better show, but it’s wrestling, so who knows.

Also they didn’t spend four months building the main event. Though the WWE spent a whole year building The Rock vs. Cena and that sucked…. like, really sucked. Which is an interesting point I just made to myself, so I shall mention that later on!

So Spike might renew their current deal, who knows, but they won’t go out of business, but it’s certainly not good news.

What is worse news however is that Alberto Del Rio got the axe from the WWE for slapping some social media guy. Rightfully so, I’m sure. I’ll let you decide if I mean getting fired or slapping the guy.

… getting fired, obviously.

We all knew it would be the next step, there is the big news of a WWE talent getting fired, or quitting or being “released” then it’s the “Why?” then it’s the TNA factor.

TNA have made a career off of bad business moves of bringing in bigger named talent, dropping the belt on them, doing nothing, getting a few weeks of ratings, pissing off a lot of fans, pissing off the talent then big name star quits and it’s done.

Happens, every, single, time.

So yes, TNA apparently went right after or at least wanted to go right after getting Del Rio with the added boost of wanting to drop the Heavyweight Championship on him right away. So that’s awesome brilliant thinking. Are we seriously thinking that in 2014, after 12 freaking years, the same stupid guy has a job that does this and thinks it’s a good idea. Lets be honest, Del Rio, really isn’t all that good. Del Rio most certainly isn’t better than the talent you already have. And are you really, really, going to throw away your build up and planning and developing to just put it on the new guy whose name has some cache with a bigger company? Are we really still doing this?

For a company that has the best locker-room in the industry, they are damn lucky, most of them have still decided to stick around, because when your as stupid as to do this, all the time, you don’t deserve to be in business.

Sorry but, James Storm, Bobby Roode, Austin Aries. Sort them out first. Samoa Joe, Eric Young, Jeff Hardy, Bully Ray sort them out next. Then focus on your new talent in the following years. It’s just frustratingly pathetic, that I hope, and pray, this actually is a work, and TNA have finally decided to poke fun at the same mis-steps they always take.

Want to solve your ratings / network problem? Here’s a hint, Don’t Do The Same Thing Every Body Hates! AGAIN!

TNA: IMPACT WRESTLING – 14/8/14

Well I started productively then thought you know what, I wonder how many guys came from the WWE and won the TNA title in little to no time at all. That goes to wikipedia, that goes to youtube, then you find your not even watching anything remotely relevant to why you went looking in the first place, and I guess that’s the beauty of the internet.

Or in other words, a waste of time.

Clearly.

Hot off the heels of Dixie going through a table, and yes to keep up to date with the time scheduel, this was 7th of August that the Impact show aired with Dixie’s power-bomb, funny enough days after this current TV Show was taped.

So they must have had to ruin a lot, or just one show?

I lose track, but it’s confusing, it doesn’t really matter, but I like to know that the Audience are at least up to date with what’s happening, otherwise it’s distracting.

Bully kicked off the show talking about, of course, putting Dixie through a table, and then went on to talk highly of Devon, and so Devon showed up.

Yes, we’ve all forgotten how Bully kicked him in the head, then joined up for The Aces and Eights, then also betrayed him, now they’re a team again.

It’s wrestling, got it.

Then something rather cool happened, we knew from the week before about this match, but just having Matt and Jeff confront Bully and Devon, in 2014, in TNA. It’s a little weird.

In a lot of ways the Hardyz seem much less accomplished that Team 3D, given that Jeff by himself has had more singles success than all of them combined.

Also this guy obviously didn’t know Matt was in town

Obviously we all know the history between these two teams, but again, it’s just weird to have the Hardyz back together as it is, through them in the same ring with Team 3D and it’s like what happened. I grew up with this, now it’s 2014 and the ring has six sides and everything’s gone crazy.

I guess we didn’t really need a banter filled history lesson, but I can let that slide for nostalgia purposes, what I really didn’t need was TNA’s horrible editing.

They do it all the time with the taped shows, maybe the segments go on too long, but it’s so un-organic it ruins what magic can be found.

The chants don’t build up they just “appear” with a crowd shot, then they’re gone and it’s back to talking, or a quick reaction from Bully, then back to Matt.

It’s very jarring and very annoying. And it really taints the moment they’re trying to create. The moment is there, it’s happening, but you’re cutting it out. I suppose I can live with the horrible editing of a forced history lesson promo to set the main event, because it’s one hell of a main event.

Because of how the show is presented, you already know which guy will win. Given that only Low Ki got a Televised entrance, you know from that alone they view Low Ki as the favourite, biggest star, and clearly the one going to win. Given the last few weeks of TV Time, it’s no surprise either.

The jury is still out on whether Low Ki is even sticking around. I don’t think he’s signed a contract.

But whatever, he’s awesome, so I can get with it. I’ve never understood the appeal of Homicide. I don’t get why he keeps coming round. I know he has a fair history with TNA, but he doesn’t come across impressive in the least to me.

He does the odd flip or crazy jump, but that’s about as far as it goes, and he does that with no grace.

Poor Crazy Steve was the first to be eliminated followed by of course Tigre Uno. Yup, that trend continues.

Least he wasn’t the first to be eliminated, that would have really annoyed me. I’d rather Steve didn’t go straight away either, but given his character it fits.

What worries me is that it seems Uno knows he’s being underused, because he took his limited time and pulled out all the stops. He’s fantastic, I don’t get why they’re not using him better than just to fill matches.

I say it every episode he is on, but seriously:

In the end of course it was down to Low Ki and Homicide, again, don’t get the appeal.

But they did put on a good bout, hard hitting, fast paced, good wrestling.

Low Ki won… didn’t see that coming.

No chance he will defeat Samoa Joe in his first X-Division Championship defense, but it could start off a nice feud.

EC3, Rhino and Spud hit the ring to talk about last week’s actions of putting Dixie through a table. EC3 called for Bully to be fired, which brought out Kurt Angle – who is on the WWE track again, sick of hearing about that.

Kurt instead got them all arrested, I guess it was kind of funny. Maybe this is supposed to be the “end” of them too, but I don’t think we’ve seen the last of it. Which basically means, Dixie is gone, but she’s not gone.

The show was built around the footage from after the Show, Dixie’s condition, an interview with Dixie next week, EC3, Spud still around. It’s not done with at all. So what was the point? People don’t want it on the show, you’ve ended it, leave it. But we all know they won’t, so it’s going to go on, and drag out a little bit more, and a little bit more, until just like Dixie and Bully themselves, nobody cares anymore, and they didn’t care to start with. Move on.

Mr. Anderson vs. Gunner

This match happened.

I’m not sure what the crowd was doing during this match but they seemed to go onto (I believe WWE’s Fandango dancing and theme) onto other random crowd chants.

Which means they were whole heartedly invested in this match up.

Samuel Shaw ran down to “break up” the fight, which led to Anderson punching Shaw, which led to Shaw beating up Anderson, which led to Gunner breaking them up.

It’s really not all that exiting, plus it’s on the same trend as TNA’s current trend of not trusting people. I’m fairly confident Shaw will turn out to be using Gunner all of this time.

And Anderson is really the one who is right, but looks like the bad guy. Been there done that.

Biggest news from Impact, JR Tweeted about Dixie going through a Table, and they showed it. Doubt this means anything at all, but JR has been positive about TNA for a while, surely they would listen to him and take his advice. I think it’s the actual “in ring” segments of Wrestling he enjoys… you know, from a Wrestling show.

Isn’t it far too soon to be playing the only card Wrestling can think of, the competition between friends. Angelina and Velvet are “butting heads” already, again, again I might add. We’ve been down this road before too.

With the same people.

Again.

I’m still rather confident there will be a “surve ball” in here somewhere and the Beautiful People pretending to have issues will be the downfall of Gail’s current Knockouts Championship run.

Least that is wishful thinking, I suppose that would have to go to Velvet. Which is cool, she’s only held the belt once, and it wasn’t for long.

Taryn dived off the top rope to the floor taking everyone down, living up to her crazy and short legacy.

Something I really liked about the New York fans is that they do seem to respond well to the Knockouts, and I mean the Knockouts actually Wrestling. I respect that.

To be honest I respect any Wrestling fan that actually gives respect to the Wrestlers. I was a little appaulled by some fans in Manchester when I was there last year who were booing the Knockouts and yelling for them to get out the ring. The Knockouts Division in TNA is one of their strongest assets, they need to grow it more if anything.

The Beautiful People wouldn’t let either of themselves win, and Taryn cleaned the ring (and somehow managed to take herself out of the ring with a clothesline), Gail then dropped Velvet with Eat Defeat and retained her Championship.

TNA is a bit all of the place currently, I’m not quite sure where things are going to go.

Bully and Dixie has been centre stage so long now, that the World Championship really doesn’t feel that relevant.

They are obviously building Roode, but with Team 3D and the Hardyz etc taking the Main Events, it doesn’t feel like the right place for the Championship, or even that Roode seems to be the right guy to take the belt.

Another reason we don’t need Alberto Del Rio.

One thing is for sure though, and that this match was awesome.

MVP is still limping around, but King, Lashley, EY, Roode and especially Austin Aries are all on top form. Put them together in a match that is fast paced, impactful and continously moving, it creates something special.

It really is hard to look at Roode as the favourite, even though Aries lost to Lashley, and then again lost his match, just in the ring, Aries is on another level to everyone, always is. How do you put that in second place.

MVP hit Aries with his Crutch behind the Ref’s back leaving Aries ripe for the Lashley spear, and the win.

The Hardyz vs. Team 3D

What can I say. Team 3D walked out in their old school Camo, Matt and Jeff, well they’ve always looked fairly similiair to how they look now. Though if they both rocked the black jeans, Matt with his black shirt and white stripe on the sleeve his big arm bands and Jeff the same with his arm bands (also how cool are Jeff’s Arm Bands) I would be giddy if they did that.

Still don’t think the music is impactful enough, but it works alright.

I don’t know if it’s just my childhood nostalgia, but this was something. My favourite Wrestling Promotion, my all-time favourite Tag-Team the Hardy Boyz facing off against their best opponents, Team 3D easily the best Tag-Team in Wrestling history. Just something to behold, in 2014.

From the get go I was hooked, but to make it all that much better, this match was fantastic!

Which if you remembered at the start of The Jobber Blogger I had a rant about The Rock and John Cena. Well as a young Wrestling fan, obviously The Rock was one of my favourites too, who didn’t like him?

Though 2003 Hollywood Rock heel run – his best work, ever!

Aside from that, let’s move on.

Rock wasn’t all that great as a Wrestler, obviously he as an entertainer, untouchable.

But as a young Wrestling fan, you don’t really pay attention to the neuances of Wrestling technicality.

Which is why when Matt and Jeff go up against Team 3D, it was magic then, and it was magic now.

Though the difference would be all of them have stayed active in Wrestling, Bully and Devon completely re-shaping themselves psyhically and mentally, Matt and Jeff going through what they have, and Jeff easily being in the best position he’s ever been, with his best Work he’s ever done, right now.

So yeah, it’s not apples to apples here.

If there is anything that bugs me about this match, is two things.

One, I feel Matt and Jeff could have pulled out a few bigger patented Hardy moves, but then, they should also save them for another time.

Two, Devon kicked out far too easily from the Twist of Fate and Swanton.

But of course the 3D is just pure awesome as a Double Team move, so credit goes to Team 3D, and even though I’m a Hardy fan through and through, no matter what. Team 3D should have picked up the win, and they did.

What more can I say, if you grew up in the same Generation as me, then you will no doubt feel the same as a I do.

Fantastic match, utterly awesome from in the ring, just to the moment of itself, to nostalgia to everything.

Match of the Year nominee, no doubt about it.

Impact was a packed show and it was a great show. A shame they took a dive in the ratings, because TNA do deliver a lot of great work, it just falls short.

Hardcore Justice is coming at us next week, and given that it’s still in New York, it’s going to be brutal.

Bram vs. Abyss – Stairway to Janice

Samoa Joe vs. Low Ki – X-Division Championship

Six-Sides of Steel – Number One Contendership Match for the World Heavyweight Championship

Should be awesome.

Something that is probably smart, but also not as awesome is TNA moving to Wednesday nights in America.

Thursdays have always been their thing, aside from when they had the guts to go head to head with RAW, and didn’t really make a dint. But kudos to trying.

TNA want the ratings, and WWE is thinking of shifting Smackdown back to Wednesday.

I think it really sucks that TNA at least won’t try and go head to head with WWE’s second rated programme. I understand it.

It just feels a shame, and it almost feels like a step toward the end of their Spike TV contract.

I hope the Spike bosses love the shows and Wednesday prove successful, either way, TNA needs to find a new home, because even though they make dumb errors almost constantly they still put on a great show.

Well, the infamous One Hundred and Nineteen issue of The Jobber Blogger! It’s taken a while to get this up and running.

Seems fate is against me this week, or at least timing, but it has helped me to “adapt”. Yes, in a string of “firsts” I’m going for something I’ve decided to call “Write’N Watch”.

Yup, WNW, or wNw for those nWo fans out there (salutes), I haven’t even seen Impact yet, so it’s all loaded up ready for me to breeze through and enjoy, and I shall make notes of each segment as usual, then jump across and get typing. Time is of the most import, and also time is the issue. Also power cuts.

A string of Birthdays, break-downs and power-cuts (oh my!) later, and it seems I’m ready to roll!

See you after the first segment!

TNA: IMPACT WRESTLING – 7/8/14

Bram vs. Abyss – Monsters Ball

So yes, TNA kicks off with a Monsters Ball match, which is a pretty decent way to start a show where your Boss goes through a Table.

It’s all ECW based folks, and that kinda sucks. But Monsters Ball has its place within TNA, and thankfully so does Abyss.

What is a little jarring is how much they are plugging Dixie going through a Table, which is also the Intro Video package to this show, right after Bully and Dreamer talk about it (before it happens), making a promise. Then the video package saying it does happen, then Taz and Tenay asking the question “will it?”

I’m confused in this time-travelling plug of a show.

Speaking of Whaa, I like Bram. I’ve said it multiple times, but I like his image, music and his intensity.

Intensity is exactly what this match was, Abyss brought Janice into the match, but did the old “swing and a miss” into the Turnbuckle. That’s when Bram grabbed a Chair and took a swing, but Abyss elbowed it back into Bram. I only mention this because Bram’s selling of the elbow to the chair to his face, was excellent! I enjoy to watch people fall to the floor convincingly in a fake manor.

Also this guy

Also totally got you on The Jobber Blogger! I’ll MAKE YOU FAMOUS!

To the Seven people that might consider reading it.

Bram went back first from a choke slam onto the Thumbtacks (I don’t remember it looking that nasty before). In the end though, Magnus got involved stealing Janice from Abyss, Bram speared Abyss through the Barbed Wire board, then hit Abyss in the stomach with Janice and took the win.

Interesting that Bram has defeated Abyss again in a Monsters Ball match. Interesting indeed.

Also Bram took Janice with him after winning the match, fairly sure this is leading somewhere. If it’s anything like poor Dixie, then Bram will have to eat a good shot from Janice sooner or later.

Back to the show!

It feels like I forgot to come back and Write the rest of this. As it turns out. I didn’t.

MVP, Kenny King and of course Bobby Lashley took to the ring. Which is neat, it really does feel these three have taken a back seat, despite Lashley being the World Champion.

So it is nice for them to step up and get a moment to talk, even if it’s a little thin.

Though it is nice to see MVP floating around, I still don’t know where to place him in the company anymore, but once he’s fully back to being healed, either legitimately or storyline, we might have a better idea to see where he goes. Hopefully against Austin Aries.

On the plus side, MVP did make me chuckle whilst describing Aries’ recent World Championship match from last week, and I quote:

I don’t know what it is about Wrestlers and their Ass obsession. Right on queue of “who else is there for Lashley to beat” out comes Bobby Roode. Who incidentally had this to say about MVP:

“I’m not out here to talk to your Ass!”

Would be a totally different show if he was… o.O

Fairly obvious Roode would be next in line for a shot at Lashley, though I wouldn’t be surprised if it took him a few months to get a Fair match, at Bound for Glory.

But if I’m honest, right now, I want Lashley to win. I miss having long Championship reigns, and they come with someone who is legit. TNA doesn’t have anyone who fits the mould of a undefeated World Champion better than Bobby Lashley.

Kenny King went on the attack with MVP to follow, which brought our Eric Young and Austin Aries. So there you have it…

The Bromans vs. Mr. Anderson, Gunner and Samuel Shaw

It was actually nice to see the return of this flimsy “when it fits in” storyline. Also The Bromans, I do like the Bromans.

But let’s not beat it around the bush, this match only took place to further the storyline between Anderson, Shaw and Gunner. As plainly obvious from this gem of an entrance

Anderson wouldn’t tag Shaw, and in the end pushed him out of the way to take the Tag for himself from Gunner, of course leading to Shaw “coming to the rescue” but Anderson got caught with a Roll-Up, and was pinned. Blaming Shaw, etc etc.

Least it’s better… and a lot worse, then where Shaw was before. I suppose his whole Creepy Bastard idea was rather neat, and the creepy moments with Christy.

Still think Gunner needs a bit of a boost.

I’m starting to think I’m just writing what you already saw, and then in that case… why!?

I would upload a Face Palm picture.. but I really don’t have the effort.

Team EC3 vs. Team Bully Ray – 8-Man Hardcore Match

I forget what the actual title for this match was.

But hey, it was pretty damn good! I’m not one for getting all into ECW revival territory… again, but it is cool when it’s done right. Thankfully it was done right. Shame it keeps getting brought up rather than moved on from, but they all have their connections to TNA anyway, so it does fit.

No idea if Snitsky and Ryclon are going to be hanging around now, same goes for Rhino and Dreamer. Be nice to see Rhino stick around, maybe even Dreamer. Who knows. It was short lived the first time Dreamer got involved and somewhat uneventful, but I’m glad he’s kept in touch and works behind the scenes.

Also Al Snow made an appearance, which usually isn’t that spectacular, but having the audience with their “heads” going crazy, is pretty damn cool, so I’ll give him that. His spring-board moonsault to the floor however, didn’t seem quite as impressive, but that is mainly due to the fact it looked like if he was actually caught, he would have plummeted on top of his head.

Crazy fast paced Hardcore match, and it was awesome. Also how cool is the 3D. When it’s done right and comes out of nowhere, it’s a super cool Tag-Team move. Glad Devon is back, nice to see Team 3D at work again, and a good choice for the Hall of Fame.

Also I think half way through the match Rhino suddenly remembered he left the iron on back at home…

The Beautiful People tried their best to get Angelina Love her fair and due – rematch. But in turn Hot Mess herself, who for some reason struts around like a Drunk, decided to whine about how Angelina broke up the match between herself and Gail Kim recently.

This is the thing! A face, would always get a fair rematch, Angelina is due one, I know it’s storyline, but it bugs me, it doesn’t make sense. I hate having either “total Heel” control or “total face” control.

Least I can blame Kurt and feel somewhat better.

So yeah, next week, Gail Kim defends the Knockouts Championship against Angelina, Taryn and Velvet. Fairly sure Velvet and Angelina will throw a curve ball about “breaking up” and also Brittany should get involved… and then Madison. Then ODB, then whoever else.

Sanada vs. Samoa Joe vs. Low Ki – X-Division Championship

Storm kicked off the match, first with a backstage promo to Sanada, then to introduce Sanada. It’s just a weird fit. I can’t take it seriously, and don’t buy for a second a guy like James Storm would want to be a “master” having people bow to him. It’s just weird.

Tough love is put on Sanada regardless.

On the other side is Low Ki and Samoa Joe who had a little face off earlier on in the night. Low Ki did some rather Mortal Kombat inspired voice for his promo, which seemed very out of a place against a guy like Joe. Joe can cut a promo, because he does it from his heart, he’s himself, and he’s good at it.

I didn’t make many notes for the match itself, though very good. All three of these guys are the kind of talent you want to stay in TNA. Low Ki is just different to anyone else, which I suppose they all are, but Low Ki is a special bread, so I wanted him to get the Championship with the hope he will stick around this time. No idea if he will or not.

Sanada rolled up Joe into a bridge pin which was counted into Joe’s submission hold for the Tap-Out Victory.

Suppose it makes sense for Joe to come back into the division, he’s a fan favourite, and what better way to re-define the Division than to put Joe back as the figure head. Still want Tigre Uno to have a run. Or at least a match with Aries, make it happen!

And last but not least, Dixie for no reason at all goes to the ring with her hired hoodlums, insults them, fires Snitsky and Ryclon (good run). Then Bully, Devon and Dreamer take centre stage. I think I threw up a little when Dreamer said “extreme pipe bomb”. Thankfully King Mo punched him in the face so we didn’t have to.

I think it would have been a little better if it “happened” organically. Rather than booking a segment to do it. So it’s pretty much going to happen.

Either way, we can be picky all night, Bully pretty much put himself through the table and just pulled Dixie back closer to him. But what matters, is that it was a moment, and it was cool.

The entire TNA Locker-room stopped Dixie from leaving, and so Devon escorted her to Bully to powerbomb her through a Table.

The fans went nuts, TNA chants rattling my speakers and it was a moment that makes you proud to be a TNA Fan.

I love the crazy TNA Chants! That’s what bugs me the most about the ECW chants creeping in, we have something cool, that is ours, that is real, and that’s TNA. Support that and chant that, and it’s magical.

I think this is supposed to be the end of Dixie Carter on Television, which would be nice, least for quite a while. She’s had a good Heel run, and it’s the most fitting way to send her out.

I hope things are going to keep moving with this, and actually push a new direction for TNA.

Still no news I don’t believe on their TV Deal with Spike, they’re at least on air till the end of September with No Surrender.

Well, I guess there is no time better to start writing this week’s The Jobber Blogger then right now. On Sunday! Yes, I am on time! Huzah!

I’ve not actually been and read back last week’s issue, but it did seem a bit of a rush around squeeze in, so if anyone didn’t like it, then I can apologise.

However, isn’t this interesting, I have just this week got back from my short trip away, which was lovely, thanks for asking. But right now, things are all blowing up.

Spike TV doesn’t seem interested in renewing TNA’s contract, which would effectively cancel Impact Wrestling. But let’s be serious for a second, one, Spike has not as of yet cancelled the show. Two, Spike are actually being pretty decent to TNA, unlike they did when they cancelled WWE Raw some years ago. All TNA need is a new network, or another deal with Spike.

This is why TNA isn’t going anywhere, despite people already writing which Wrestler is going where. Obviously this isn’t a good sign, but TNA is drawing Spike’s biggest numbers, which probably also means Spike’s biggest money project, is also TNA. So win some, lose some I guess.

TNA is a huge, million dollar company, that has its roots firmly set all over the globe. They are the number one watched Wrestling show in a good portion of Europe, someone will want them.

Again, people seem to think this is bad news, and a sure “good riddance”, yet WWE’s been through this before, it doesn’t’ mean anything.

What TNA need to do however is address what isn’t working. Paul Heyman recently said that people need to let go of ECW, and thank god he said that. Of course some people don’t like his words, but it’s almost pathetic now.

TNA just can’t let it go, and the only reason that is, is because ECW is more viable than TNA. How ridiculously bad is that. The best work TNA can do, is when they theme their shows to a flash in the pan company from over a decade ago. TNA has 12 strong years of history, but it’s clearly not working. At least in a branding sense.

It’s frustrating, year after year, TNA has the talent, the locker-room is fantastic. When they put on a Wrestling show, it’s the best Wrestling show going. When they bog it down with crap, no one cares. And it’s almost always bogged down with crap. Vince Russo is gone now, which is good news. They’ve got the Six-Sided ring back, they’re trying to push the X-Division (again) things seem to be rolling. Edge, and JR are publically saying how good the quality of the show is, when they just let their Wrestlers, Wrestle.

You would think TNA would have found their little slice by now, but it’s still all up in the air. But with that being said, at least they are still trying, and taking risks, it’s that which will always gain my respect as a Fan. Though why they drop some good ideas, and then green light some terrible ones, does baffle me a little. I think losing the Bound for Glory series is bad news, but then it wasn’t a perfect tournament, it needs refining, shortening down, but the idea behind it is great.

TNA: DESTINATION X – 31/7/14

Well if you didn’t guess by the banner, it’s Guardians of the Galaxy time folks! I’ve been riding this high for quite some time now. I don’t know what it is, but I am hooked, I’m itching at the finger to just buy anything related to the Guardians. I love the comics, I love the movie, I love the characters. T-Shirts, Toys, Prints, Collecatables, comics of course, everywhere! I’m obsessed!

Which brings us neatly to Destination X, where I am a little unsure of my final opinions on.

Well, it was a good show, no doubt, but it is a TNA show after all, so it does have some niggles.

The whole point of this was to set up a match for next week, against Team 3D and Dreamer, pegged as “one final match”.

Which gets ruined for us all at the end of this week’s show, but more on that later.

Apparently Snitsky and Ryclon, are supposed to represent ECW. Which is a joke. Everyone knows that’s a joke. WWE’s “ECW” was a joke, hell, the original ECW was boarder line a joke in the first place. So yes, Snitsky was briefly in WWE’s ECW, and Ryclon, as Ezekiel Jackson, was the last person to hold WWE’s “ECW” World Championship. Funny enough, it’s the very same Championship which is classed as one of Bobby Lashley’s World Championship reigns. Also a joke.

I find it hard to care about this anymore, but thankfully this all ends next week when Dixie goes through a Table. Oh Wait, is that a Spoiler?… no, it’s on the show, this week’s show. TNA’s own show.

I guess we might as well get this out of the way here. The whole “Next Week on Impact Wrestling” is all about Dixie going through a Table, which is footage from next week’s show. Sure they cut it before she goes through the Table, but what a joke.

They’ve obviously seen that this big “storyline” is not as interesting as they thought, as the Ratings take a dive every time Dixie is on TV, no matter if she’s going through a Table or not.

So to try and boost the viewership one would only imagine, they run the clip of “next week, she goes through a Table, tune in to witness it”. If I was more like a Moriarty, I would not watch it on principle! But I’m going to watch it, because that’s what I’m like. Still kind of crap to spoil your own show. Doesn’t say a lot of good for the product is it. It’s Square Enix all over again.

Hardyz vs. The Wolves – World Tag-Team Championships

So I will be honest, I got a bit of a kick out of covering this match. Sure I do this for the fun of it, but just having established what little I have with The Jobber Blogger, it was pretty cool to be covering a Hardy Boyz match. They’re my team. They’re my childhood, so it was quite a thing.

What is weird though, is having the Hardyz passing the torch, I grew up with them in their prime, now they’re on the closing part of their careers, or at least sailing toward it slowly. It’s quite sad.

I would love to say they were just as good as I remember, on point, perfect, fast and efficient. But they weren’t.

Which obviously, they are a fair bit older, and although Matt is working with ROH and other indie shows, he just doesn’t seem quite as on point. I guess they haven’t team regularly enough either to get back into their old routine. I know they’ve done some shows at Omega, and recently with the Young Bucks (they should be back in TNA).

That slight criticism doesn’t sell them short by a long shot, this match was awesome! The Wolves are at the top of their game, and so is Jeff, I think Matt needs a little bit of time, but he’s only a step behind his potential.

What I will say sucks though, is the entrance theme. It sort of worked for Matt in his whole “Cold Blooded” idea, but it’s not Hardy Boyz. This is Jeff’s version where he put lyrics to it, which is worse.

So I do think that sucked a little bit of momentum from them, the original Hardy Boyz theme is iconic, it’s impactful, and it sets the pace.

I’d like to think if Matt decides to stick around, they might put the time into a new Theme. But who knows what he’s going to do right now.

I really didn’t make much notes about the match itself, other than how good it was, but when they picked up the speed toward the end of the match, is when it really started to shine.

Not to mention Matt got to go out on a high, he might have been the one getting pinned, but least The Wolves’ offensive is so hard hitting, people will understand.

What is possibly more exciting is the advertised Wolves vs. Team 3D vs. Hardyz for the next set of New York tapings, that, I can’t wait for. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them push a Full Metal Mayhem out of them all too.

DJ Z vs. Manik vs. Low Ki – X-Division Qualifier

This match, right here, is what the X-Division is about to me. I know there are another two matches on the card, but these three stole the spot light.

And they gave each other time to shine. All eyes are on the returning Low Ki, who is just awesome, I love Low Ki. But DJ Z draws the short straw, but he backs up his unusualness in the ring, and it’s great to see him get that time. A lot of the time he falls into the weak gimmick, much like Robbie E, but he’s a big threat, and very credible, so I appreciate him having his moment in this bout too.

I’d have preferred to see Tigre Uno thrown into this mix, and much like every week, it’s Tigre Uno’s position that is frustrating me. More on that later on.

In the end Low Ki is the one who picked up the win, defeating Manik no less, which further established Low Ki’s current threat having defeated DJ Z last week.

Sanada vs. Brian Cage vs. Crazy Steve – X-Division Qualifier

It was actually quite a treat to see Brian Cage back after last year’s unsuccessful Gut Check outing. But despite being impressive, I just don’t find appealing as a Wrestler. His physique is his downfall. I just don’t feel there is a place for that kind of breed of Wrestler anymore, unless you are at the top of your game, like Bobby Lashley, otherwise you fall into the “I don’t know what to do with this” category, like Rob Terry.

Cage can move quick for a big man, but I don’t want to see that. As an example, Cage next to Crazy Steve, is just no comparison. Steve is appealing instantly, he’s got a quirky character, he moves perfectly to fit his character, he’s good in the ring, but he’s also highly entertaining, I’m already rooting for him, so there’s no competition.

Sanada (ironically for a Japanese man) is actually a fair bit taller than the majority of the X-Division competitors, he’s a big guy. But he exemplifies the X-Division style, so he’s a great fit (also glad he’s sticking around longer).

Speaking of Sanada, Storm kicked off the match by talking smack on Muta, and then introduced Sanada, with Storm now in the position of Sanada’s new mentor. Which seems absurd.

I don’t really like Storm in this position, but hey, it’s Wrestling. Whatever.

It will bug me that Storm isn’t the top heel though, because his potential is huge. Though not currently against Lashley, but one day.

In the end, Sanada picked up the win.

Yes, TNA is teasing new stars! Which seems silly to sign new Wrestlers, and re-sign current talent, if they’re going out of business. Guess what folks, they’re not going out of business! Woop!

Just maybe a new network.

I do know who this is, so I wont say unless you want to know!

Samoa Joe vs. Tigre Uno vs. Hernandez – X-Division Qualifier

This is why I hate this match.

Tigre Uno is the filler. Tenay kicked off the match by once again praising Uno’s ability, and how close he’s been of late to winning the X-Division Championship. But there is one thing that tells the story of this match, and that’s Joe’s return to the X-Division, followed by Homicide’s return.

Never liked Homicide.

This puts Uno the odd one out, in a Division he’s arguably the best in. If Uno was against Manik, DJ Z, Low Ki, Sanada, Crazy Steve, that would be awesome.

Hell Uno vs. Aries, I want that match.

But here, he was just to throw around. It’s rather annoying if I’m honest, I think Uno is superb.

Joe took the win, making Samoa Joe vs. Sanada vs. Low Ki for the vacant X-Division Championship next week. My pick is Low Ki. Probably more hopeful than anything else.

Austin Aries vs. Bobby Lashley – World Heavyweight Championship

I think we were all fairly sure Aries wasn’t going to win this one. Lashley isn’t losing the belt till Bound for Glory, at the earliest. Which I would guess could be to Roode.

Aries impresses as always, but the thing that still seems odd, is that Lashley really isn’t all that established as World Champ, even now.

I’d much prefer he remain un-established than to have him cutting Promo’s every week about how good he is. But still.

I would like nothing more than to say that this match was match of the year worthy, but it’s not.

If anything, it bugs me a little bit.

Aries took himself out by missing his Suicide Dive to the outside, he hit nothing but Guard Rail, Lashley then speared him for the win.

Sure, this makes sense, but it’s also exactly how Jeff lost.

The difference is that Aries always does his suicide dive, whereas Jeff took a huge gamble by Swanton Bombing the steps, that was his downfall.

I’d prefer Lashley to be so strong, so unstoppable, that even when his opponent thinks they get the upperhand, and dish out their best moves, Lashley kicks out, and kicks out. Which in turn makes them take a risk, just like Jeff did, and that cost him the match.

This seemed less cool, and more like Lashley couldn’t win unless his opponent made an error.

So yeah, Lashley won.

Overall a good show, strong card, good matches.

But nothing quite ground breaking. The only storyline going on really is the Dixie Carter / Bully Ray mess that no one cares about.

Hopefully TNA have some big plans for when I imagine Dixie will be off of TV. MVP is out of the way. And it seems they are going more “old school” TNA. Which is a good direction, hopefully something works out. But then, it seems at the brink of every “new beginning” I’m writing, Hopefully. And still, no hope.

Next week should be good though, least with matches.

Low Ki vs. Samoa Joe vs. Sanada – X-Division Championship

Abyss vs. Bram – Monsters Ball

and EC3, Snitsky, Cyclone and Rhino vs. Bully Ray, Devon, Dreamer, and I hope no other ECW has been.

Ladies and Gentleman! Yes The Jobber Blogger has some serious Firsts to discuss!

Today, is Friday! You asked for it, probably didn’t though on second thought. But I am going away on Sunday, busy all day on Saturday, not back to Wednesday, busy on Thursday, so that means I needed to watch, and write up Impact on the same day! That’s almost like blasphemy in the realm of priorities that involve effort!

But you will be happy to know that the above statement is not the ground breaking first news. No it’s something far better, far unexpected! The Jobber Blogger has been put in his place, you might remember (doubt it) back in Issue #113, the No-One Cares guy! He is Real!

And despite what you might expect, he does indeed care, he stumbled on to the blog and has since been in touch! Yup, I’ve been told! Though in related news, he found it all hilarious, so there is that, which also means that I got away with it!

Oh how I wish the Rick Moranis look-a-like guy from New York found my blog from last week, that would tickle my mind for years!

TNA: IMPACT WRESTLING – 24/7/14

Yup, this was the second round up of TNA Tapings from New York, I do believe there is yet to come Destination X, then that might be it, I don’t remember.

But here is my initial thought, “meh”. Now that doesn’t mean they weren’t good shows, but they were supposed to be BIG, like push the company forward. But they were just ECW riddled, good matches, nothing really that spectacular. Hey, this episode ended well… just had some serious problems.

Bobby Roode vs. MVP – Falls Count Anywhere

So here it is, the verdict, MVP seems okay. So he was just selling it all rather well last week. I don’t however think he’s 100% by a long shot, but clearly can go, without issues.

Which at first, I thought this match actually wasn’t going to take place, the whole MVP not going to the ring, then Roode going to the back. I expected Kenny King to jump him or something to take over for MVP. But no, it went on as planned.

I don’t think this is over by any means, because although Roode got his hands on MVP, I guess the whole Eric Young dynamic will take this a little further. King and EY both got involved in the match briefly. But for the most part is was just Roode throwing MVP around but nothing get too serious.

In the end though, Roode applied one of the worst looking Sharp-Shooters I’ve ever seen (and he’s Canadian folks) and won the match.

It’s the kind of Sharpshooter that would scare Sting so much that he would leave the company and turn up at Comic-Con for a WWE Panel. Oh yeah, that happened too…

Jeff Hardy hit the ring, which confuses me.

Jeff had a really good match with Lashley last week, so this week he comes out and talks about “Willow heard the fans, but he’s not gone”, though I did like the “I will paint my face, wear a mask and Swanton the Steel Steps all to entertain you”. That was good, so credit goes there.

So what I expected was Jeff talking about his loss, maybe his sore back, but instead for no reason, he brought out Matt Hardy. We all saw it coming, we knew he was at the event, but I don’t get the connection.

Why did Jeff come back to the main event to just go into the Tag-Team Division right away, couldn’t someone else have battled Lashley last week? I don’t know.

Here’s my other problem. The Hardyz look old. Now I was a Team Extreme follower growing up, like serious follower. I wore my Hardy Boyz pendant with pride, Every Single Day for Years! YEARS!

But now seeing them together in 2014. It’s almost, odd. Everyone’s always loved Jeff, he looked awesome, he wrestled with a different style, he was reckless, people just gravitated to him. But for my money, Matt was always the better Wrestler. Now over the last few years, Jeff has become a full package, where Matt has nothing over him now, but age. And that’s a disadvantage.

Matt was always the smart one, he did his best to keep Jeff on the right tracks, always stood by him, Jeff went off the rails numerous times, but then Matt did, and Matt went off hard. I mean the whole Hotel fight with his wife recently just leaves a sour taste. I don’t know what went on, none of my business, but I find it hard to look at a childhood hero and see any kind of redeeming quality in him now. My other childhood hero being Jeff, sorted himself out, improved himself, put himself in the best position he’s ever been, and it shows. To see them side by side, I don’t think I crave another Hardy Boyz Tag-Team Run. I want to see them compete, but if I’m honest, Jeff is TNA. I want him here. Matt, I don’t mind so much. I was a big supporter of Matt coming to TNA, and he messed them around and he fell hard. He’s not really shown any sign of repairing that.

The Challenge was put out to The Wolves, and seeing both teams standing against each other. Hey, I’m a Wrestling fan, I’m looking forward to the match. But it doesn’t feel like The Wolves are going to over-come Jeff on his own, he fits in the roster. Matt is the dynamic that makes them feel old-news and that they can’t compete to the same level anymore.

Glad Matt seems to have sorted himself out, I look forward the reunion Tag Match, but I like Jeff on his own now. If I’m honest… he’s better for it.

DJ Z vs. Low Ki

I forgot quite how awesome Low Ki really is. Don’t get me wrong, I’m fully aware he’s awesome, but him just walking out on the ramp, his movements and mindset make him feel like a character. Yet it’s just him. He’s not wearing a mask, or doing any kind of gimmick, he just embodies this characteristic that is awesome to watch. Not to mention, he’s a true master of his chosen trade in Professional Wrestling.

I didn’t really write anything for this match. I know Low Ki was supposed to be at Destination X, so I do look forward to that, I don’t know if he’s actually signed with TNA, or if he’s just making an appearance, like Matt, Rhino, Devon and Dreamer.

Zema still has a weird aura to him, I like him… but I’m not sold on him. Never have been. There’s just “something” I can’t put my finger on with him, that to me makes him feel like he’s incomplete.

Either way, Low Ki won.

Bram and Magnus vs. Gunner and Anderson

Apparently Gunner and Anderson have been a Team of late, awesome that we got told things like this because they never showed it.

They were talking about the Tag Teams in TNA, when really there is two. The Wolves, The Bromans.

Bram and Magnus just doesn’t work, all eyes are on Bram, they won’t remain a Team, I’d guess they will be feuding by the end of the year. Gunner and Anderson, forget it.

That leaves The Hardy Boyz, which is a one off, and Team 3D, that have no interest. So just The Wolves and Bromans, I guess maybe the Menagerie, but not so much.

Maybe they could put Uno and Manik as a team, or something along those lines.

Bram and Gunner faced off for a good while, clearly trying to set something up between the similarities between them.

Magnus won the match by Pinning Anderson after his “Spine Shanker” move. Which sounds ridiculous. It’s like a weapon you would get with a 90’s Saturday Morning Cartoon character’s Figure. Or indeed sound like a Villain from the a 90’s Saturday Morning Cartoon…

Bram instantly carried on the attack, which in the end brought out the wild card in play is Sam Shaw. Shaw just decided to stand there and get attacked. Which is actually more interesting than him getting involved. To me, that’s trust building, when he probably has no intention of using it. Which just means Gunner and Anderson are not a team, because they are not finished.

Kurt Angle brought out Austin Aries to see if he is going to cash in the X-Division Championship for a shot at the World Championship. Which despite Aries talking in riddles, is exactly what he did.

Lashley and MVP confronted Aries, but Aries gave the usual speech about not backing down.

The main important thing to note is that Aries opened up this possible idea “Option D”. Where the X-Division Champion can cash in the Championship at any time for a shot at the World Championship. This sounds as simple as this, “we can reboot any errors quickly, or grab ratings quickly should we need it”. Plus adding to the problem of pretty much everyone being a former World Heavyweight Champion.

So now there are Two Belts in the company, which means you can get to the top by winning the easy belt to obtain. Is technically how it sounds.

The other problem, and this is the main one, is that the X-Division championship is supposed to signify the Division that TNA was built on. It’s the Championship that defines the company, it’s the championship that is prestigious and only held by those who really have been in TNA, to be in TNA. Sting hasn’t done it, Mick Foley, Kevin Nash, all of the big names to come and go, had nothing to do with the X-Division. It’s the Division built by AJ Styles, let’s be honest. So now, that Championship is just a throw away, and now not only as important, but just nothing on the importance level to the World Championship.

You can just win it, ditch it for a shot, lose, win it, ditch it. No-one wants to hold that belt for the legacy it represents, they want to win it, to just get rid of it.

I don’t like that. Option C makes sense, hold the belt as long as you can, if you make it to the big PPV of the year that puts the X-Division front and centre then you can cash it in for a main event match and the new up and comers get a chance at the Gold. Good idea. Option D, bad idea.

Also shows how much TNA need another Belt.

Taryn Terrell vs. Gail Kim – Knockouts Championship

I still don’t think Taryn has really done enough to “earn” the position she is currently in. After her limited, but impressive run on the active roster, she doesn’t feel like Number One Contender material.

However, both Taryn and Gail did put on a good match, which they hit a lot of top rope moves that seemed to connect with the crowd in a way most Knockouts matches don’t.

But, I still can’t look at Taryn in the same light, she doesn’t seem like she’s back in-shape for this position. I’m sure she will be, but right now, she just doesn’t feel “ready”.

Least Angelina and Velvet crashed the match and beat them up, I liked that part. Also Angelina was looking great, once again, Velvet making her look better. Clearly Velvet doesn’t look bad, I don’t know what it is though, but side by side, Velvet just seems to push attention to Angelina, who takes it naturally.

They work together in that regard. Aside from Angelina will always look like the leader .. which is a good thing, least to me.

The Great Muta vs. Robbie E

Yup, the Great Muta was invited to the ring, don’t know why, as I don’t think he knows how to speak English, so a speech would have been a bit of a waste of time. Speaking of waste of time, Robbie E decided to call him names, and so a match was put on.

I too, don’t understand what is so “Great” about Muta.

Someone started Whistling, then Storm came out (that’s a good idea, but poorly executed on Storm’s theme), Storm then spat Beer in the face of Muta, and started to attack.

The rest kind of wrote itself, initially I thought Muta was going to turn on Sanada, till this segment, where it was obvious Sanada was going to turn. Good news, Sanada has re-signed with TNA, so that’s cool.

I’m not so sure on Sanada looking up to Storm as a leader, rather than he just agree with Storm’s views.

That wasn’t a good ending. Ezekiel might fit the mould, shame they both didn’t join Aces and Eights last year.

No idea where this is going, or even why they would bring them into TNA. I don’t get the connection, and it really wasn’t all that of a shocking end.

And yes, EC3, Spud and Rhino won again. So now I care a little less.

Bit of an odd show, but least Destination X is up next week, the reunited Hardy Boyz battle The Wolves for the World Tag-Team Championships, a new X-Division Champion to be crowned (I think) and Austin Aries vs. Bobby Lashley – World Heavyweight Championship.

But it had one main issue, least for me. They tried too hard. It was ECW all over the place. Taz kicking off the show, in the crowd. Doing his old catch phrases. Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer, then Rhino, Devon returning. Everything was BS from that one time in Wrestling that they managed to do something “different”. But it was a select kind of different, not a main stream type of different. “Everyone’s got the same look in their eyes!”.

TNA’s been plugging this whole ECW thing since day one, trying to be the edgy company, trying to find the similarities, now TNA is going back to their “roots” with the 6-sided ring. All this does is encourage people to chant ECW. I for one get a kick out of the organic TNA Chants. This isn’t ECW. Nor should it ever be. And the only thing more depressing than trying to re-create something that wasn’t all that great in the first place, is bringing back the guys that did it, for no reason other than that. Hey look, here’s Tommy Dreamer again, after his first really unsuccessful run in TNA, and now Rhino’s back. Hey Rhino used to be a big deal in TNA, then he left, then they brought him back for their ECW Revival, and got rid of him shortly after… now he’s back again.

TNA have just announced that they are bringing “Hardcore Justice” to their next TV Tapings in New York next month. Which pretty much means, hey look… ECW’s back…. again.

TNA is on a much bigger level than ECW, look at the stars they have. The calibre of talent. That’s not to say some of the guys from ECW weren’t talented, because they were, just not the majority.

TNA has the majority, and to label themselves, this company, which by all means is far Bigger and Better than ECW ever was, it just feels cheap. Focus on what makes TNA great. Rather trying to pander to an old audience of what, 4 years prime, 15 years ago, so that audience then see’s their old favourite under-ground stars telling you why you should like TNA. Here’s an idea, just show people TNA Wrestling.

Aside from the odd occasion, it seems liking TNA is becoming less of a “cool” thing. TNA chants used to dominate like the old ECW chants did, and still do. Yet during this show, ECW and ROH chants took centre stage. So well done on promoting everything else.

Woo!

On the plus side, New York did bring out some lovely creepy folks I laughed at in the Audience, which is probably my new favourite section!

Queue Creepy guy staring at the back of TAZ!

TNA: IMPACT WRESTLING – 17/7/14

Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer vs. Rhino and EC3

How bad is that, I just wrote above “vs. Rhino and ECW”… ugh

So yes, ECW kicked off TNA. Which as I stated above… was great.

Bully Ray is once again sporting the Biker Cut, this time it’s a Bully Ray – 5150, which looks much less cool than the Aces and Eights one. Here’s a thing, the one person the Cut looked worse on, was Bully Ray. So that’s ironic.

Rhino and EC3 came out after, with EC3 obviously playing the doofus, which really stands out with an ECW type of spot light. I’m sure that was the point.

Bully then got everything chanting Tables, and much to my surprise TNA didn’t even attempt to plug the fact that Rick Moranis was in attendance…

Well the 6-Sided ring is back, and I completely forgot it was till I started watching the show. I remember that being one of the big excitement moments, and now it’s back! It almost doesn’t look or feel quite as it did, given that it has the Impact Wrestling branding rather than the old school Black and Red from TNA Impact. Either way, it’s awesome to have it back, and I actually really enjoyed seeing how everyone Wrestled in it, who I haven’t seen compete in it before.

I think I mentioned this earlier, but for this Storyline to be where it is, and to the level it is, with Dreamer and mainly Rhino just coming back recently, feels a little odd.

I suppose when you have the history in place it writes itself… again. No idea how long Rhino will be sticking around for, we all know Dreamer is working with TNA behind the scenes, so he can easily pop up every so often.

Spud being the breath of fresh air he is in this old fashioned revival caused the distraction and EC3 pinned Tommy Dreamer. How much longer will this go on for you might ask, probably quite a while… maybe not, maybe even next week will be the end of it? So says..no one.

8-Man Gauntlet – X-Division Championship

Yes Kurt Angle is booking matches out of his ears, least no cheat sheet this week. But newly crowned X-Division Champion Austin Aries has the deck stacked. But I like the fact Aries’ character is one of “bring it on, I’m better than everybody you’ve got”. And we all know it, believe and encourage it.

He’s like the legit Eric Young.

Not that EY doesn’t mean it, only Aries backs it up with reality.

So here’s the thing that bugs me about the X-Division currently, and certainly this match. Well two things. But they go hand in hand here, almost.

Sort of.

I Legitimately did NOT make that photo!

I did however make this one! =D so proud!

Austin Aries, Eddie Edwards, Davey Richards, Manik, Crazy Steve, Tigre Uno, Sanada make the 8-Men competing for the X-Division Championship, pretty much guaranteeing he who wins will get the chance to cash it in next week for a World Title Match at Destination-X.

It’s just like last year, only if Aries lost (which would really suck) it would far, far better than having someone, like, oh I dunno, Chris Sabin, be the World Champion. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!

Moving on.

Here’s the problem, Crazy Steve, one of the best new-comers to TNA, awesome character, he’s different, people love him. I get that, it’s awesome. I love Crazy Steve. He’s the flip side to him, he’s a goof character, we all get it, that means he can get away with some things, maybe eliminate Robbie E, or something from a match. But no, The FIRST, FIRST!!! Person to be eliminated was Tigre Uno.

Hey, I praise Uno every time he steps in the ring, no-matter who he is with, Uno stands out. Hence why Uno vs. Aries would be amazing. TNA beat this guys drum when he joined the company, but now he’s being the first guy eliminated, by the goof character. Really? Is that how you sell people on this highly talented athlete. This makes me think, if it’s budget cutting time, Uno is gone. If his contract comes up, he’s not going to re-sign. Why would he?

I hope he gets a really good outing at Destination X, and I really hope after the World Title picture cools off, Uno actually gets the chance to raise to the challenge. Say going into BFG as the X-Division Champion, even if he loses, that would be sweet.

So yes, in the end, it came down to Aries and Sanada, the last two left then becomes a Pin-Fall / Submission outcome, and your down with the over-the-top-rope stuff. So it was like a mini rematch from last week’s fantastic bout. This, was also fantastic, which on the flip side, last year was similar with Aries and Sabin.

Only Sabin just didn’t cut it higher than that.

Aries once again kicked it up a notch, and defeated Sanada, rightfully so and retained the X-Division Championship. Here’s the thing, Aries is either not going to cash it in, because he’s “too smart”. Or he will cash it in, and lose. I don’t see Bobby Lashley dropping the belt anytime soon, (spoilers for the main event) and quite honestly, I don’t want him too either.

Kenny King and MVP vs. Bobby Roode and Eric Young

EY and Roode are officially Team Canada’ing it up. And it works. Roode is awesome.

What I’m confused on, is MVP’s injury. Because either he’s really good at selling, or he really isn’t fit to compete. Which I get it, he’s not really doing any kind of Wrestling, but just being back in that environment is bad news. He might have agreed to this, he might be 100% fine and just putting it on. OR he might be injured, and if he’s injured, this match wasn’t fun to watch. I get the storyline bullet dodging, I’m cool with that. If he actually isn’t 100%, he shouldn’t be in that ring, at all. I’m perfectly fine with that and perfectly in support of that.

The New York Tapings left me very confused as to where on earth the fans were in relation to being up to date with TNA. I’m fairly sure they’ve missed almost a Month’s worth of Television and Storyline Development before this show. So nothing would have made sense. Let’s be fair, that really sucks if you’re a fan going to watch your favourite Wrestling show and having all of it spoiled for you.

In the end MVP and King used the Crutches to beat down Roode and EY, getting a DQ.

However next week, Angle booked Roode vs. MVP in a falls count anywhere match. So either MVP is actually fine, or something shady is going down.

Madison Rayne vs. Brittany – No DQ

It’s weird putting the Women on a show in front of the New York fans, the “ECW” Crowd.

But guess what, Brittany and Madison Brought It!

The Knockouts are fantastic! I love them. I want more and more of them, one Knockout match a show used to be un-common for a brief period of time. Hey, I love it when they main event. I know on average there aren’t as many “high quality” Women’s Matches on the same scale as how the Men compete. But Angelina and Gail tore it down, and Madison and Brittany hit it right back. If this keeps up, I’ll have to re-think my categories for Match of the Year.

It was hard hitting, highly entertaining and just awesome! It makes me so happy to see Brittany in this light, because it emphasises what a great asset to the Division she is, and that’s what you want to see out of new talent. Madison we all know is great, but she’s been on a different level lately too.

Madison dropped Brittany with her “Package DDT” which is an awesome move, and took the win. Also on a side note, seriously happy Madison seems to have switched her finisher, because what she did before, the “mood swing”, knee to the back fall over thing, it was a little awkward, and not always that impactful. This Package DDT… is fantastic!

Jeff Hardy vs. Bobby Lashley – World Heavyweight Championship

So I gave ECW a lot of crap, and related it back to TNA. I love nostalgia more than the next guy, I guess ECW just wasn’t my thing. Not that I didn’t watch it, own some of it. I just don’t like a lot of it. I like the talent that came from it, and I understand the paying your dues, but Bully Ray is far more synonymous with the WWE and certainly TNA.

Regardless, this was a great show, the X-Division Gauntlet was great, Brittany vs. Madison was great, but it was easily Jeff Hardy and Bobby Lashley who stole the show.

I’ve said it before, but as a life-long Jeff Hardy fan, it’s amazing to see him at this stage of his career right now, doing the best work he’s ever done. Sure he’s had crazier matches in his past, and that part of his career could certainly look like his prime. But he’s never been delivering matches to this quality since he came back to TNA a few years ago.

So I shall say it, he’s certainly not for everyone, but I do feel those that are put off by his popularity or stance as a Face, respect his abilities and respect his position with TNA.

It actually felt really good to have Jeff Hardy back.

And Lashley, is legit. And I love that.

I love how he’s just big, tough, confident and highly talented. I love that he doesn’t talk, doesn’t back down. He’s what you want in a World Champion.

Not that I’m against EY, or Jeff or especially Austin Aries being Champ, just right now, I’m enjoying the Lashley train.

It seems to be around this part of the year where you tend to get most of your “Match of the year” matches popping up, usually getting more and more as you head into the big PPV’s to close out the year.

This match, Hardy vs. Lashley, goes right into the Nominations. And it’s weird how just one moment in a match makes you feel on a different level, and that rises your excitement and involvement, and it’s that which boosts how you view it, for its entirety.

Yes, I’m talking about Jeff doing a Swanton Bomb from the Top Rope onto the Steel Steps. I’ve never seen that before.

I was shocked.

I expected him to do a Leg Drop or something, I didn’t expect him to a Swanton and Lashley to Move. Obviously they planned it, but it was awesome! Totally unexpected and a perfect finish. Jeff took himself out, Lashley speared him and got the Win. Perfect.

Dixie, EC3, Rhino and Spud closed out Impact, with Dixie showing she’s not afraid of Bully by going to the ring in front of his fans to protest the whole being “put through a Table” lark. Which obviously feels like it’s being put on far too thick, that sooner or later Dixie is going to have to go through a Table.

Bully has been losing for Months, getting his ass kicked, being put through Tables, by everyone. Yet he’s still built as this force. So sooner or later something is going to have to give, and you are in a Betting mood, I’d put a safe bet on the gears shifting next week.

Bully and Tommy Dreamer came out to battle, getting really close to putting Dixie through the table. Everyone escaped but EC3, and with the return of Devon, poor EC3 went through a Table.

So I might actually throw out my early prediction of Bully being a Heel. I think he’s face, with Devon, the hall of fame, and Dixie is going to have to go through a Table.. which seems absurd.